complete verse (Luke 21:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:14:

  • Noongar: “Before that day, you must prepare yourselves. You must not fear how you will answer them,” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Make your hearts strong ahead-of-time, so that you do not need to think first how your answer should be.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Really consider/remember in your liver that you do not think about it beforehand as to what you should answer when you are interrogated.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Draw your thinking tight before hand (decide beforehand) that you will not be troubled about what your answer will be to their questions.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Be firmly resolved (lit. cause-to-persevere in your minds) that you will not think-and-think about what you will answer,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Just strengthen your mind/inner-being, and don’t agitate your mind/thinking about your answering when you will be interrogated.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 21:14

Exegesis:

thete oun en tais kardiais humōn lit. ‘so lay to your hearts.’ For this phrase cf. on 1.66, but here its meaning is ‘to resolve,’ ‘to make up one’s mind,’ ‘to come to a decision’ (cf. Acts 5.4).

mē promeletan apologēthēnai ‘not to prepare beforehand (how) to defend yourselves.’ For apologeomai cf. on 12.11. Here it refers to the wording of their defence.

promeletaō ‘to practise beforehand,’ ‘to prepare beforehand.’

Translation:

To meditate beforehand, or, ‘to think-out before it happens’ (Tae’).

How to answer, cf. on 12.11. Batak Toba uses here, ‘your-justification (lit. being-cleansed).’

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 21:14

21:14a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is often translated as “Therefore” (as in the NET Bible). Here it introduces a command or encouragement that is based on what Jesus said in 21:13. The context implies that since their trials will be an opportunity to testify about him, they should not worry about how to defend themselves.

Versions such as the Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it may not be natural to use a conjunction here. Begin 21:14 in a natural way in your language.

make up your mind: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as make up your mind is literally “put/have in your hearts.” This is an idiom that means “decide” or “resolve” (as in the Revised English Bible). In some languages there is an idiom to express this, as in the Berean Standard Bible. Some other ways to translate this are:

Settle it…in your minds (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Be firmly resolved

not to worry beforehand: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as not to worry beforehand means “not to prepare/plan in advance.” It is sometimes used of practicing a speech. In this context Jesus did not want his disciples to plan what they would say to defend themselves. The parallel passage in Mark 13:11 uses a word that means “worry, be anxious.” Jesus also did not want the disciples to worry about what they would say. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

not to meditate beforehand (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
not to rehearse ahead of time (NET Bible)
-or-
don’t worry in advance (New Living Translation (2004))

21:14b

how to defend yourselves: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as how to defend yourselves refers to what the disciples would say that would show that they were not guilty. It does not refer to using force to defend themselves. Other ways to translate this are:

about what you will say (New Century Version)
-or-
about how to answer the charges against you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
about what you will say to convince those who accuse you that you have not done anything wrong

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