Translation commentary on Luke 20:42 – 20:43

Exegesis:

en biblō psalmōn ‘in the book of psalms.’ For biblos cf. on 3.4.

psalmos (also 24.44) ‘song of praise,’ ‘psalm,’ in Luke in the plural and referring to the Old Testament book of Psalms.

For a detailed treatment of the rest of vv. 42f, containing the quotation from Psalm 110.1. The text of Mark and Luke is identical with the one exception that Luke following the Septuagint reads hupopodion tōn podōn sou instead of hupokatō. For kurios and tō kuriō mou cf. on 1.6, sub (4) and (3) respectively.

hupopodion ‘footstool.’

Translation:

In the Book of Psalms, or, ‘in the part of the Scripture called the Psalms,’ or simply, ‘in the Psalms.’ For book see on 4.17. Psalms, often transliterated, may be translated as ‘chanting’ (Ekari), ‘songs’ (Shona 1966, Tae’), ‘Holy Songs’ (Trukese), ‘holy songs of old’ (Uab Meto), ‘songs of worship/praise.’ In some predominantly Muslim countries one of the Arabic terms for the Psalms, i.e. zabur, or mazmur (etymologically related to Hebr. mizmor), has been transliterated.

For the Lord and my Lord see on 1.6, sub (c) and (b). If the term for “Lord” is obligatorily possessed, the first phrase may have to become ‘our Lord’ (Dan).

Sit, the aspect is ingressive and continuative: sit down (or, take a seat) and remain seated.

My right hand, cf. also on 1.11, ad (1) and references.

(V. 43) Till here has the meaning of ‘during the time that,’ ‘and in the meanwhile.’

Enemies, see on 1.71.

A stool for thy feet. In this metaphor, which sometimes is better rendered as a simile, any term will do that refers to something that is put under the feet of a person sitting in state, such as, ‘cushion,’ ‘carpet,’ ‘small-bank’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘footstick’ (Highland Totonac). It may be preferable, however, to use a culturally equivalent figure of speech for subjection of enemies; or to shift to a non-figurative rendering, e.g. ‘I subject your enemies to you,’ ‘I defeat your enemies for you’; or to combine a figurative and a non-figurative rendering, e.g. ‘I beat down to the ground your enemies and put them underneath your feet like grass’ (Enxet).

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 20:42

20:42–43

In these verses Jesus quoted from a psalm that David wrote. In that quotation David told what God said to the Messiah. The words that God said are expressed as a quote within a quote. In English these quotations use three sets of quote marks. In some languages this may be confusing. Translate and print the quotations in these verses so that they are clear in your language.

See the Display for 20:41b–20:44b. The first meaning line of the Display for 20:41a–20:44b uses only two sets of quote marks. The second meaning line is an example of how to use an indirect quotation.

20:42a

For David himself says in the book of Psalms: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as says introduces what King David himself wrote in Psalm 110. Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1 in 20:42b–43. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

David himself said in the Book of Psalms
-or-
David himself wrote in the book of Psalms: (New Living Translation (2004))

the book of Psalms: the book of Psalms refers to a book of the Old Testament. This book includes psalms that were written by different people. The book of Psalms is part of the holy Scriptures. The word Psalms means “songs” or “songs of praise.”

Be sure that your translation of the book of Psalms refers to the biblical book, not to any other song book or hymn book. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

The book of Psalms ⌊in the Scriptures⌋
-or-

⌊in the part of God’s word/book,⌋ The book of Psalms

20:42b

The Lord said to my Lord: This clause indicates that God spoke to the Messiah. In some languages it may be necessary to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

The Lord said to my Master
-or-
The Lord God said to my Lord

See Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

The Lord: The phrase The Lord refers to God. In the Hebrew text of Psalm 110:1 the word is “Yahweh,” which is God’s personal name. The Greek text uses the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord to refer to this name. This Greek word literally means “Master, Chief, Ruler,” but the Jews realized that in this context it was substituting for God’s name Yahweh.

In some languages people may not naturally use a word that means “master” to refer to God. They may not understand that the word for Lord refers to God here. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use your word for God.

• Use your word for God and indicate that he is the Lord. For example:

God the Lord
-or-
Master God

If you include the word for God in your translation of Lord, you may want to include a footnote to give the literal Greek meaning. For example:

Here the Greek text is literally “Lord.”

my Lord: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my Lord means “my lord” or “my master.” In this context Lord refers to the Messiah. Other ways to translate my Lord are:

my chief
-or-
my ruler
-or-
my Lord ⌊the Messiah/Christ⌋

See Lord, Context 3, in the Glossary.

20:42c

Sit at My right hand: The Lord told the Messiah to sit at his (the Lord’s) right hand/side. In Jewish culture, the seat at a king’s right side was a symbol of honor and authority. It symbolized that the king gave the person seated there authority to rule along with him. In this context, God was telling the Messiah to take this position of honor and to rule along with him (God).

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

Sit here ⌊in the place of honor⌋ at my right side
-or-
Sit down here at the right ⌊to join me in ruling⌋

If you do not make this implied information explicit in the text itself, you may want to add a footnote that explains the meaning.

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