parable of the prodigal son (image)

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lost

The Greek that is often translated as “lost” in English is translated in Mairasi as “their faces lengthened.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

complete verse (Luke 15:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 15:24:

  • Noongar: “Because this my son was dead, but now he lives; he was lost but now he is found.’ They were very happy and they began eating and drinking.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Because this my child, we could say he was dead, but he lives again. He was lost, but I found him again.’ They had a feast.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For this child of mine was like dead and lives again. He was like lost and has come home.’ Then they began to celebrate.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because as for this, my son, it was as if he was dead but now he is alive again. He was lost and today he is found.’ And then they began to have a good time.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because this child of mine was like dead, but (surprised realization) here he is alive. He was lost, but here he has arrived.’ Then they began to be-happy-together.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For this child of mine was as-it-were dead but has indeed come alive again. It’s like he was lost but has been found.’ Without anything further, they truly celebrated.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 15:24

Exegesis:

hoti houtos ho huios mou nekros en kai anezēsen ‘for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again.’ houtos here points to somebody who is present. nekros and anazaō are used here metaphorically; they either refer to moral death and rebirth, or mean ‘thought to be dead,’ and ‘to come back alive,’ preferably the latter.

ēn apolōlōs kai heurethē ‘he was lost and has been found,’ repeating the thought expressed in the preceding clause.

ērxanto euphrainesthai ‘they began to celebrate,’ cf. on 4.21.

Translation:

For was lost, used also metaphorically here, cf. the note on v. 4.

Is found, here not the result of a previous search (as it is in vv. 5f, 8f), cf. note on 2.12; hence one may have to say, ‘has come home’ (e.g. Ekari), or, ‘I have got him back.’

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 15:24

15:24a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For gives the reason why the father wanted to celebrate.

this son of mine was dead and is alive again!: The father used the words dead and alive here in a figurative way. He meant that his son was like someone who had died and had become alive again. His son had not actually died, but the father had not expected to ever see him again.

If this expression will be understood literally in your language, you may need to make explicit that it is a figurative comparison. For example:

I thought this son of mine had died and here he is alive!
-or-
It is as if my son had been dead, and now he has come back to life.

this son of mine: This phrase probably indicates that the son was standing right there. The father was probably gesturing toward him as he spoke.

15:24b

He was lost and is found!: This clause expresses the same idea as 15:24a but in different words. The son was not literally lost. He knew how to get back home. But his father compared him to something that gets lost and later someone finds it. As in 15:24a, it may be necessary in some languages to make explicit that this is figurative language. For example:

⌊It is as if⌋ he was lost and now ⌊I⌋ have found him!
-or-
He was ⌊as if⌋ lost, but now he has returned home!

15:24c

So they began to celebrate: Some time passed after 15:24b before the celebration started. The servants obeyed the father and everyone got ready for the party. In some languages it may be necessary to make this clear. For example:

so ⌊they all got ready and then⌋ began to celebrate

celebrate: See the note at 15:23b.

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