formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff. ), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In Nepali translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and other people with the medium honorific pronoun timīlē (तिमीले) or timīlēharū (तिमीलेहरू). This disciples respond with a high honorific pronoun. (Source: Chitra Chhetri in The Bible Translator 2009, p. 73ff. )

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

See also formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese).

complete verse (Luke 17:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 17:23:

  • Noongar: “People will tell you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ But don’t go out and look for it.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “At that time, there will be those who say to you: ‘The Redeemer King is over there!’ Or there will be those who say: ‘Here he is!’ But don’t go follow them!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Some will be saying to you, ‘O, there he is.’ or ‘He is here.’ Do not go there looking for me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if someone says to you that I, the older sibling of mankind, is there nearby, or if he says I am there afar off, don’t you listen to him,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There will be those who say, ‘Go look, he is there!’ or ‘Come here and look, he is here!’ But really don’t believe it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “You will be reached by news which says, ‘He really has returned again and is here now!’ Or others will say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t you believe it going there to look for me.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 17:23

Exegesis:

kai erousin humin, Idou ekei; [e,] Idou hōde ‘and people will say to you, look there, or, look here,’ cf. v. 21. ekei and hōde refer to places where the Son of man was alleged to have appeared.

mē apelthēte mēde diōxēte ‘do not go off (i.e. from your ordinary occupation), and do not run after (them),’ i.e. the people that say ‘here,’ or ‘there.’ The clause is asyndetic. For diōkō cf. on 11.49.

Translation:

‘Lo, there!’ or ‘Lo, here!’, or, ‘ “There he is!” or, “Here (he is)!” ’

Go, or, ‘go off,’ ‘go away.’

Follow them, i.e. ‘follow where they lead you,’ or, ‘go with them.’

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 17:23

17:23a

This verse begins with a common conjunction that versions such as the Revised Standard Version translate as “And.” Some other English versions have “Then,” and many do not have a conjunction. Begin the verse in a natural way in your language.

People will tell you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as People will tell you is literally “They-will-say to you.” “They” refers to people in general. For example:

People will say to you (New Century Version)

‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ is literally “Look, there! (or) Look, here!” This clause is very similar to the clause “‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is’” in 17:21a. Notice that 17:21a and 17:23a use different orders for “Here…” and “There…” You may use a natural order in your language for both verses.

The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the pronoun He to refer to the Son of Man (Jesus). People will say that the Son of Man is there or here. Here are some ways you can translate this:

• Translate it as direct speech. For example:

People will tell you, “Look, there is the Son of Man” or “Here he is” (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate it as indirect speech. For example:

People will say that I am over there, or that I am here.

17:23b

Do not go out or chase after them: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Do not go out or chase after them is more literally “do not go, do not pursue.” For example:

Do not go, do not follow them. (Revised Standard Version)

It indicates here that the disciples should not follow anyone who claims that the Son of Man has returned and claims to know where he is. Other ways to translate this are:

…don’t go looking for him. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Stay where you are; don’t go away and search. (New Century Version)

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