Translation commentary on Luke 23:26

Exegesis:

hōs apēgagon auton ‘as they led him away,’ i.e. in order to be executed. The subject (not stated) is the Roman soldiers.

epilabomenoi Simōna tina Kurēnaion ‘after taking hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenaean.’ For epilambanō cf. on 9.47; here a note of violence is implied. tina may go with Simōna or with Kurēnaion, preferably the former.

erchomenon ap’ agrou ‘coming in from the country,’ or, ‘from the field,’ preferably the former.

epethēkan autō ton stauron ‘they put the cross upon him.’ epitithēmi does not imply violence.

pherein opisthen tou Iēsou ‘in order to carry it after Jesus,’ final infinitive. opisthen also 8.44.

Translation:

As they led him away. The direction may have to be specified, e.g. ‘from Pilate’s palace,’ or, ‘to (the place of) execution.’ The clause may better become a co-ordinate sentence, the next sentence being introduced then by a transitional phrase, e.g. ‘on the(ir) way’ (cf. Good News Translation), ‘as-they-led-him thus’ (Tae’ 1933).

Simon may have to be properly introduced; hence e.g. ‘Now, a certain Simon was coming…. They seized him…’ (cf. Marathi), ‘They met a man named S…. They seized…’ (cf. Tzeltal).

Of Cyrene, i.e. ‘a man hailing-from C.’ (Balinese), ‘native from (the town of) Cyrene,’ ‘who originally had lived in C..’

From the country, i.e. the countryside, see on 21.21.

Laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus, cf. “take up his cross daily and follow me” in 9.23, using in a figurative sense what here refers to actual fact. The sentence is sometimes better rendered in two or three clauses, e.g. ‘they laid the cross on him and compelled/ordered/caused him to carry it behind Jesus (cf. The Four Gospels – a New Translation), or, walking after Jesus.’ In translation one may have to use more specific verbs, e.g. ‘to lay-on-the-shoulder/back/back-of-the-neck,’ and/or, ‘to carry-on-the-shoulder’ etc.

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 23:26

Section 23:26–43

Soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross

In this section the Roman soldiers did what their commander Pontius Pilate had ordered them to do. They led Jesus outside the town to the place where they crucified criminals. There they nailed Jesus on a cross. They did the same to two other men, who were criminals. Then they made the three men hang there until they died. The Jewish leaders, the soldiers, and even one of the criminals mocked Jesus. But the other criminal believed in him.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Crucifixion (New International Version)
-or-
Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 27:31–44, Mark 15:21–32, and John 19:17–27.

Paragraph 23:26–31

23:26a

As the soldiers led Him away: This clause introduces something that happened while Pilate’s soldiers were leading Jesus away to be crucified. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

From there, they took Yesus outside the town, and on the way…
-or-
Then they began to lead Jesus out ⌊of the city⌋ ⌊to crucify him⌋. As they were walking there…

the soldiers led Him away: Here the phrase the soldiers refers to Pilate’s soldiers. These soldiers led Jesus away from his trial at Pilate’s house. They were taking Jesus as a prisoner to his execution. Some other ways to translate the soldiers led Him away are:

the soldiers led Jesus away (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus was being led away (Contemporary English Version)

23:26b–c

they seized Simon: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as seized means “to grasp/grab.” The soldiers grabbed Simon so that they could force him to do something. Some other ways to translate they seized Simon are:

some soldiers grabbed hold of…Simon (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they met…Simon…They caught him

Simon of Cyrene: This man named Simon is mentioned here for the first time in the book of Luke. In some languages there is a special way to introduce a new person and give background information about him. For example:

they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon.

It may also be more natural to give all the background information about Simon before telling what he did. See the General Comment on 23:26a–e at the end of 23:26e for examples.

Cyrene: Cyrene was a town on the coast of north Africa. In some languages it may be helpful to indicate in the text that Cyrene refers to a place. For example:

⌊the town of⌋ Cyrene
-or-
the place called Cyrene

23:26c

on his way in from the country: This clause tells more background information about Simon. Simon had come from the countryside and at that moment was coming/going into the city of Jerusalem. Other ways to translate the clause are:

Simon was coming into Jerusalem (God’s Word)
-or-
was coming in from the fields (New Century Version)
-or-
on his way in from the country (Revised English Bible)

from the country: The phrase from the country refers to fields or small villages and towns. It contrasts with the city. In this context the phrase does not indicate that Simon had been working in his field or farm. The name Simon is Jewish. Work was forbidden to a Jew during an important festival like Passover. Translate the phrase in an appropriate way in your language.

23:26d

put the cross on him: The phrase the cross refers here to the cross to which Jesus would be nailed to die. Usually criminals were forced to carry one of the large beams of their own cross. They carried it to the place where they would be nailed to it.

In this context the soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus. They put the cross on Simon’s shoulders. Some ways to translate put the cross on him are:

laid the cross on him (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
placed the cross on his back/shoulders
-or-
commanded/forced him to carry the cross ⌊that Jesus was carrying⌋

cross: The word cross refers to two large beams of wood that were joined in the form of a cross (+ or ✝ or sometimes a T). In many languages there may be no word for cross. If that is true in your language, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

board/wood of death
-or-
crossed-beam(s) of death
-or-
a tree for killing people
-or-
a stake/plank to which they fasten/nail someone to kill him

See how you translated cross at 14:27.

23:26e

to carry behind Jesus: The soldiers forced Simon to walk behind Jesus while he (Simon) carried the cross. Another way to translate this is:

forced him to carry the cross, then they had him follow Jesus

General Comment on 23:26a–e

This verse gives background information about Simon and also tells about his part in the events of Jesus’ crucifixion. It may be more natural to give all the background information about Simon before telling what he did. For example:

26aThe soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, 26bthey met a man from Cyrene named Simon 26cwho was coming into the city from the country. 26bThey seized him, 26dput the cross on him, 26eand made him carry it behind Jesus.

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