The Greek that is typically translated as “send (him) away empty-handed” in English is translated in Punu with the existing idiom “send (him) away holding his hands.” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 54)
In Western Highland Chatino it is translated as “(they) didn’t give him even one grape.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “empty-handed” or similar in English is translated in Elhomwe idiomatically with “with hands only.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 20:11:
Noongar: “So the man sent another servant; but the people beat him and injured him, and sent him away with nothing.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “After that, the owner of field/garden then ordered another slave [to go]. But they just beat him too, they sassed/spoke-harshly-to him, and expelled him without anything [lit., dry].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Then the owner of the vineyard told a different servant of his to go to them. They also beat him and shamed him and sent him home without anything.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for that owner, he sent again another servant to those taking care of the field and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and they sent him home without anything.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “So the farm owner again sent a slave. But it was just the same, they whipped him and shamed him and then they caused-him-to-return without giving him anything.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When that owner observed, he sent another of his slaves, but they in fact clubbed-his-head and really did to him what was shameful, and sent him back also taking nothing at all.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
He sent another (or a second) servant, or, ‘again (or, for the second time) he sent a servant (of his).’
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.
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