Pilate

The name that is transliterated as “Pilate” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language (as well as in French Sign Language) with the sign signifying the washing of hands (referring to Matthew 27:24). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Pilate” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “government/governor” plus the sign for “P” with a circular movement. The reference to government indicates Pilate’s position of authority in the Roman Empire. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Pilate” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pontius Pilate .

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

complete verse (Luke 23:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 23:24:

  • Noongar: “So Pilate spoke the word of death for Jesus, the thing they wanted.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Pilatus agreed that Yesus be condemned to death, following their request.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore Pilatus felled the judgment that their wish should be followed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “and he permitted that Jesus be nailed to a cross.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and he agreed to what they wanted.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s why Pilato decided to just go along with the will of those people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Luke 23:13-25)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:13-25:

Pilate called together the chief priests,
the religious authorities, and all their cohorts.

Then he said:
       “You brought Jesus into my court,
              accusing him of being a troublemaker.
       But you’re witnesses that I’ve found him innocent,
              and so has Herod, who sent him back to me.
       This man doesn’t deserve the death penalty.
              I’ll have him beaten, then released.”

“Kill him! Set Barabbas free!” shouted the angry mob.
Now Barabbas had been in prison,
       charged with terrorism and murder.

Pilate wanted to set Jesus free,
       so he repeated himself to the mob.
But they shouted even louder,
       “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”

“What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate once again.
“I’ve found him guilty of nothing deserving death.
       I’ll have him beaten and released.”

“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!”
       came the incessant cry of the crowd.

Finally, Pilate gave in to the demands of the frenzied mob.
He freed Barabbas, the terrorist and murderer,
       then handed Jesus over to face certain death.

Translation commentary on Luke 23:24

Exegesis:

kai Pilatos epekrinen genesthai to aitēma autōn ‘and (consequently) Pilate decided that their request, i.e. what they requested, should be done.’

epikrinō ‘to decide,’ ‘to determine,’ not a specific judicial term.

aitēma ‘request,’ here referring to the content of the request.

Translation:

Gave sentence, or, ‘pronounced/passed sentence.’

That their demand should be granted, or, ‘that he (i.e. Pilate) would do what they asked for,’ ‘to comply with their request’ (Balinese, Tae’).

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 23:24

23:24

So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is the common conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Here it introduces what Pilate did when he could not resist their shouting. Connect this verse to 23:23c in a natural way in your language.

Pilate sentenced that their demand be met: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sentenced occurs only here in the New Testament. In this context Pilate made a legal decision that he would do what the people demanded. Some other ways to translate this meaning here are:

Pilate decided to do what they wanted/demanded.
-or-
Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Pilate pronounced the official decision that their request should be granted. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages it may be helpful to make explicit again what the people demanded. For example:

So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Pilate agreed to their request and condemned Jesus to death.

General Comment on 23:23c–24

In some languages it may be helpful to combine 23:23c and 23:24 into one sentence. For example:

23cTheir yelling became so loud that 24Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. (New Century Version)

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