The Greek that is translated in English as “fig tree” is translated in Lokạạ with figi, an indigenized transliteration of the English “fig.”
“The Lokạạ translators noted that they could not use the name of their local fig kẹkamati, which is very close to the fig family but only a shrub. This is because of the appearance of the Greek term for fig tree in verses such as John 1:48, where the fig tree is an enjoyable place for sitting in the shade. The Lokạạ translators decided to use an iconic translation of the English “fig”, which they indigenised as figi in Lokạạ. Since the term figi could not easily be connected to the indigenous term kẹkamati, readers would not have difficulty with passages such as John 1:48, in which people sit under the fig tree.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
In British Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines the signs for “tell-a-story” and “compare.” (Source: Anna Smith)
“Parable” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as analogy because “the Greek word has the sense of tossing down something alongside something else. Hence an analogy.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:29:
Noongar: “Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Remember the fig tree and other trees.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “Yesus spoke to his disciples with this parable, he said: ‘Notice the ara tree and other trees too.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Then Isa parabled to them, he said, ‘Take notice of the fig tree and other trees.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus told them a parable, he said, ‘Think about the trees, especially the fig tree.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Then Jesus related to them this parable. He said, ‘Think about the fig (Ilo. loan igos) tree and other trees.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And then Jesus gave an illustration which he caused them to hear, saying, ‘Observe the igos tree and other trees.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, hanas-are-ru (話される) or “speak” is used.
Two types of fig trees are mentioned in the Bible, the Common Fig Ficus carica (Hebrew te’enah) and the Sycomore Fig Ficus sycomorus (Hebrew shiqmah; see “Sycomore fig”). They are closely related. The common fig tree grows not only in Israel, but throughout the world in warm climates. In the Holy Land it was a common source of food; the fruit was eaten both fresh and dried. Sometimes the dried ones were pressed together to form flat “cakes” or blocks (Hebrew develah). But, just as important, the large leaves of the fig make it an excellent shade tree. However, the first use of the fig mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 3:7) was not for food or shade but for clothing; Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves for themselves to cover their nakedness.
The fig was probably domesticated in northwestern Turkey from a wild variety that grew there around 5000 years ago. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian records indicate that the fruits were popular. Figs are now grown especially in Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Portugal, as well as in the warm parts of the United States.
The fig is believed to be indigenous to western Asia and to have been distributed by humans and birds throughout the Mediterranean area. Remnants of figs have been found in excavations of sites traced to at least 5000 B.C.
The domesticated fig grows to about 5-8 meters (17-26 feet) and has a round crown and very deep and round roots. The trunk may grow to be more than 70 centimeters (2 feet) thick. Fig trees may grow to be several decades old, if they are well cared for. Figs are usually propagated by planting cuttings. The pollination of the flowers is an amazingly intricate process closely linked to the life cycle of a tiny wasp, and the fact that fig trees, like papayas and date palms, are male or female. (There are now some kinds of figs that produce fruit without pollination.) The fruits are about the size of a hen’s egg and can be green, yellow, purple, or brown depending on the type. They are sweet and soft and difficult to transport. For that reason most farmers dry the fruits before shipping them. The “fruit” of the fig is technically a strangely shaped flower. Noting the absence of a “real” flower, the ancient people of India called it a flowerless tree.
The common fig tree, along with the vine and the olive, is one of the three “top trees” for the Jews. The Bible refers to the fig over 270 times. The image of peace and happiness in Israel was “every man under his vine and under his fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25).
Wild figs are common throughout the tropical world; there are at least eight hundred species of Ficus, thirty-two in southern Africa alone. The banyan, peepul, and bo are all types of fig. The fruits of wild fig trees are not nearly as juicy or sweet as those of the domesticated ones. In many places people eat the fruit when they find it in the wild, but do not market it or cultivate the trees. Translators are urged to use the local word, and, if necessary, use a footnote to indicate the difference between the local one and the biblical one. Where it is not known at all, transliterations from a major language may be used in nonfigurative contexts.
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®).
kai eipen parabolēn autois ‘and he told them a parable,’ introductory formula marking the addition of an independent part, cf. 6.39. For parabolē cf. on 4.23. autois refers to the disciples.
idete tēn sukēn kai panta ta dendra ‘look at the fig-tree and all the trees.’ The addition kai panta ta dendra (not in Mk. 13.28) brings out that the parable is of a general nature and that no special meaning is to be attached to the fig-tree.
Translation:
He told them a parable, or, if the common term for “parable” implies a story, preferably something like, “gave them an illustration” (An American Translation), ‘made a comparison’ (Willibrord); and cf. on 5.36.
And all the trees, preferably, “or any other tree” (New English Bible).
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.
Then Jesus told them a parable: This clause begins a new paragraph. In this paragraph Jesus gave an illustration to help his disciples understand more clearly what he had been teaching them. In Greek the paragraph begins with a conjunction. Some ways to translate the clause are:
Then Jesus told them this parable: (Good News Translation) -or-
Then he gave them this illustration (New Living Translation (2004)) -or-
Then Jesus compared what he meant ⌊to a fig tree⌋: -or-
He further advised/instructed them, saying
a parable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parable refers to a comparison or illustration. A parable teaches people a truth or lesson by showing how it is like something that they already know about.
In this parable Jesus compared the signs of his coming to new leaves growing on trees. Just as new leaves show that summer is near, so the signs will show that Jesus’ return is near.
Use an appropriate word in your language for an illustration like this. If the word that you normally use to translate parable refers to a different type of illustration or story, you may need to use a different word here. Some ways to translate parable here are:
comparison -or-
illustration
See also parable, Type 2, in the Glossary.
21:29b
Look at the fig tree: Here the clause Look at the fig tree indicates that Jesus wanted his disciples to notice or remember what happens to fig trees. He may not have been pointing to a particular fig tree at that time. Some other ways to translate this clause are:
Think about ⌊what happens to⌋ a fig tree. -or-
When you see a fig tree… (Contemporary English Version) -or-
Notice the fig tree… (New Living Translation (2004))
the fig tree: A fig tree is a type of fruit tree that is common in Israel. It was mentioned in 13:6. Its branches are bare in winter. Then in the spring it sprouts buds and leaves. Fig trees normally produce small, edible fruit called figs.
Figs, fig leaves, and fig trees are mentioned frequently in the Bible. Some examples are Genesis 3:7, Psalm 105:33, Isaiah 34:4, and Matthew 21:19. Often the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. For this reason you may want to keep fig tree here in your translation.
and all the trees: What happens to fig trees happens to many trees. When the winter ends, they begin to grow new leaves. Since no one can look at all the trees at once, in some languages it may be more natural to use a singular form. For example:
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