complete verse (Luke 21:21)

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

  • Noongar: “Then those people living in Judea, they must flee to the mountains; those people living in Jerusalem must leave quickly, and those people outside in the bush must not return to Jerusalem.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “At that time, the people who live in Yudea, it is better that they escape/run-away going to the mountains. People who live in the town, it is better to run-away from the town.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the people who are there in Yahudiya shall flee to the mountains. The ones inside the town Awrusalam shall quickly come out, and the ones who are already outside shall not go inside the town.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And at that time those people who are here in the province of Judea, they should run away to the mountains. And those people here in the town of Jerusalem, they must run away also. And as for those people who live in the fields here nearby, they must not run for refuge into the town.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So those who are staying in Judea, they must hurry to run-away to the mountains. Those who are in Jerusalem, they should evacuate, and those also who are in the countryside, they shouldn’t go-home to Jerusalem.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When you observe this, it’s necessary that the taga Judea run away to the mountains. As for the taga Jerusalem, they must go out at once. And the people in the fields are not to go home to the city.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

Translation commentary on Luke 21:21

Exegesis:

tote ‘then,’ takes up tote in v. 20.

hoi en tē Ioudaia pheugetōsan eis ta orē ‘those who are in Judea must fly to the hills.’ Ioudaia is used here in the proper sense, cf. on 1.5, pheugetōsan is an imperative. ta orē refers to the hills or mountains in the southern part of Judea.

hoi en mesō autēs ekchōreitōsan ‘those who are inside her must leave.’ autēs refers to Jerusalem.

ekchōreō ‘to go out,’ ‘to leave.’

hoi en tais chōrais ‘those who are in the country.’

mē eiserchesthōsan eis autēn ‘must not enter her,’ i.e. Jerusalem. To seek refuge in Jerusalem would be the normal procedure in case of war.

Translation:

The mountains, or, ‘the hill country,’ see on 1.39.

Flee to, or, “take refuge in” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation, similarly Javanese; and Sranan Tongo, lit. ‘run into hiding’).

Depart, or, ‘leave (it),’ ‘get out of it.’

Out in the country, in opposition to what is in the city; hence, ‘in the fields’ (Javanese), ‘where the ricefields are’ (Toraja-Sa’dan), ‘in the villages’ (Malay), ‘outside the city’ (Balinese), ‘not in the city’ (Tae’ 1933); cf. also on 8.34.

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 21:21

21:21a

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then is a time word. It introduces what the people of Israel should do when enemy armies begin to surround Jerusalem. Here is another way to translate this:

At that time (New Century Version)

let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains: This clause is a command. It means that any of Jesus’ disciples who are in Judea at that time must run away and hide in the mountains. This was the only way that they could escape the enemy soldiers. Other ways to translate this command are:

You(plur) who are in ⌊the region of⌋ Judea must escape to the mountains ⌊and hide⌋
-or-
Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills (Good News Translation)
-or-
If you are in Judea, hurry to the hills and hide

Judea: Judea was a province in the Roman Empire. It was part of the land that God promised to give Abraham and his descendants, the Jewish people. Many Jews lived in Judea, and the city of Jerusalem was located there. A Roman governor ruled Judea under the authority of the Roman emperor. However, Jewish leaders were allowed some authority to enforce laws for their own people.

In some languages it may be necessary or helpful to include a word that tells what the name Judea refers to. If that is true in your language, use an appropriate term to refer to a state, province, or district within a country.

mountains: Jesus probably referred here to the mountains and hills located in the southern part of Judea surrounding the Dead Sea.

21:21b

let those in the city get out: This clause is another command. It means that people who are in the city of Jerusalem at that future time must leave it. People usually felt safer in a city like Jerusalem because walls surrounded it. However, at this future time, the city of Jerusalem will be destroyed, and many people will be killed. To be saved, people will have to leave the city and run away.

Other ways to translate this command are:

You who are in the city must leave it.
-or-
Those of you who are in the city must escape from it.
-or-
If you are inside Jerusalem, get out of the city.

21:21c

let those in the country stay out of the city: This clause is a command that tells people what they must do. It means that anyone who is in the countryside must not come into the city. People who lived in the villages and fields around Jerusalem often tried to get inside the city in a time of danger. But at the future time when armies surround the city, people must not go into it.

Other way to translate this command are:

You who are in the fields must not enter the city.
-or-
If you are in the countryside, do not come into Jerusalem.
-or-
Those of you in the countryside must not come to the city.

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