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

Translation commentary on Luke 18:17

Exegesis:

amēn legō humin ‘truly I say to you,’ cf. on 3.8 and 4.24.

hos an mē dexētai tēn basileian tou theou hōs paidion ‘whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child,’ elaborating the thought implied in the preceding clause. The phrase ‘to accept the kingdom of God’ is best understood as ‘to accept God’s rule over men.’

ou mē eiselthē eis autēn ‘shall not enter it.’ For ou mē cf. on 1.15. To enter the kingdom of God means to share in its blessings at the final consummation.

Translation:

Truly, I say to you, cf. the references on 4.24.

Whoever does not receive … shall not enter may, again, better be rendered as an ‘if’ clause (cf. on 9.24), and/or as a positive sentence, e.g. ‘only people who receive … will enter.’

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 18:17

18:17a

Truly I tell you: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly I tell you is literally “Amen I tell you.” Jesus often used this clause to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and people should listen carefully to it. It implies that the statement is totally reliable because it is based on Jesus’ own authority.

In this context Jesus used the words Truly I tell you to introduce the serious warning that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. The pronoun you is a plural pronoun.

See how you translated Truly I tell you in 4:24. In some languages you may need to translate it differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.

Here are some ways to translate the phrase in this context:

I assure you that…
-or-
Listen carefully, because this is important/true:

If you have another way in your language to emphasize an important statement that is totally reliable, consider using it here.

18:17b–c

anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it: The word receive means “accept, welcome.” A person must be willing to accept and welcome God as the ruler in his life. He must be part of the group of people who accept God’s authority.

The word enter figuratively refers to becoming a person whom God rules and cares for as his king. If a person does not welcome God to rule over him, God will not allow that person to belong to His kingdom. This is an emphatic statement. Some other ways to translate it are:

whoever does not accept God’s ruling over him the way a child accepts it, he absolutely will not be included in God’s kingdom
-or-
people who will not depend on God like children will not become his people in his Kingdom

The word enter is used in a similar way in 18:24. See also kingdom of God, Context 1, in the Glossary.

not…never: In some languages, two negatives such as this may be confusing. Here are some ways you might translate this phrase without using two negatives:

God will accept into his kingdom only those people who will accept his rule as if they were children
-or-
no one will be included in the kingdom of God unless he welcomes God’s rule ⌊in his life⌋ as a child does

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