complete verse (Luke 22:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 22:12:

  • Noongar: “He will take you up to see a room where everything is there for you. Prepare the meal there.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “The houseowner will point out to you a big room on top. That room is already prepared ahead of time, its goods/furnishings are complete. Prepare our Paskah food there.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then he will show you a wide room upstairs in the house,’ said Isa. ‘That room is already made ready. There prepare our (incl.) food.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘And then he will show you a wide room above, which is already equipped. And there you can prepare our supper.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he will show you a wide room upstairs where all that we need is located. Prepare what we will eat there.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, he will show you a wide room upstairs/up-in-the-house, complete with furnishings/utensils. There in that room is where you are to prepare.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff.), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

Translation commentary on Luke 22:12

Exegesis:

anagaion mega estrōmenon ‘a large furnished room upstairs.’

Translation:

Make ready, or, ‘make the/our (inclus.) meal ready.’

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.