doubt

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The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “doubt” in English versions is translated with a term in Tzeltal that means “heart is gone.” (Nida 1952, p. 122)

In other languages it is represented by a variety of idiomatic renderings, and in the majority of instances the concept of duality is present, e.g. “to make his heart two” (Kekchí), “to be with two hearts” (Punu), “to have two hearts” (Maan), “to stand two” (Sierra de Juárez Zapotec), “to be two” or “to have two minds” (Navajo (Dinė)), “to think something else” (Tabasco Chontal), “to think two different things” (Shipibo-Conibo), “to have two thoughts” (Yaka and Huallaga Huánuco Quechua), or “two-things-soul” (Yucateco).

In some languages, however, doubt is expressed without reference to the concept of “two” or “otherness,” such as “to have whirling words in one’s heart” (Chol), “his thoughts are not on it” (Baoulé), “without thought in the heart” (Kako), or “to have a hard heart” (Piro). (Source: Bratcher / Nida, except for Yucateco: Nida 1947, p. 229, Kako: Reyburn 2002, p. 191, Huallaga Huánuco Quechua: Nida 1952, p. 123, and Maan: Don Slager)

In Elhomwe the same verb for “to doubt” and “to be amazed” is used, so often “to ask questions in heart” is used for “to doubt.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Chokwe “kwalajala is ‘to doubt.’ It is the repetitive of kuala, ‘to spread out in order, to lay (as a table), to make (as a bed),’ and is connected with kualula ‘to count.’ [It is therefore like] a person in doubt as one who can’t get a thing in proper order, who lays it out one way but goes back again and again and tries it other ways. It is connected with uncertainty, hesitation, lack of an orderly grasp of the ‘count’ of the subject.” (Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff. )

Come and see that he is alive (image)

“Jesus allows himself to be touched by all. This picture shows a selection of all types of people from various regions and even a foreigner.”

Drawing by Sawai Chinnawong who employs northern and central Thailand’s popular distinctive artistic style originally used to depict Buddhist moral principles and other religious themes; explanation by Paul DeNeui. From That Man Who Came to Save Us by Sawai Chinnawong and Paul H. DeNeui, William Carey Library, 2010.

For more images by Sawai Chinnawong in TIPs see here.

See also Thomas with the risen Christ (image).

complete verse (Luke 24:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 24:38:

  • Noongar: “But he said to them, ‘Why are you frightened? Why don’t you believe in your hearts?” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Yesus said to them: ‘Why are you afraid and uncertain?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But he said to them, ‘Why are you startled and why are you still doubting?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you afraid of me? Why do you doubt me?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So then he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid and doubting about me?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s why Jesus said to them, ‘What are your minds/thinking agitated about? Why do you continue to be of two minds?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Honorary "are" construct denoting God ("say")

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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, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Luke 24:38

Exegesis:

ti tetaragmenoi este ‘why are you perturbed?,’ cf. on 1.12.

dia ti dialogismoi anabainousin en tē kardia humōn ‘why do doubts arise in your heart?’ dia ti is slightly more emphatic than ti. For dialogismos cf. on 9.46; here it denotes unspoken thoughts concerning the truth of what they see, hence ‘questionings,’ ‘doubts.’ anabainō is used in a metaphorical sense.

Translation:

For troubled see on 1.29.

Why do questionings rise in your hearts, ‘why are you asking yourselves, “Who/What is this” ,’ ‘why do you doubt.’ The concept ‘to doubt’ is often rendered by an idiomatic expression comparable to English ‘to be in two minds,’ e.g. ‘to stand two’ (Zapotec of Juarez), ‘one’s heart is made two’ (Kekchi), ‘one’s heart is forked’ (Ekari). Some idioms used do not have such an English equivalent, e.g. ‘to whirl words in one’s heart’ (Chol), ‘to place it on one’s heart’ (San Mateo del Mar Huave), ‘not to be able to get things in the proper order,’ a repetitive form of the verb ‘to spread out in order’ (Chokwe), ‘not to think (or, to become without thought) in one’s heart’ (Bulu, Yamba).

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 24:38

24:38a

“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus asked are more literally “and he said to them.” The Berean Standard Bible places these words in the middle of what Jesus said. This is good English style. However, in some languages, it may be necessary to put these words where they are in the Greek, at the beginning of 24:38a. For example:

He said to them, “Why are you troubled…” (New International Version)

Why are you troubled: This is a rhetorical question. It indicates that there was no reason for the disciples to be troubled. It is a gentle way to say that they should not be troubled. Some ways to translate the rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How is it that you are troubled/frightened?
-or-
Is there any reason for you to be afraid? ⌊No!⌋

• As a statement or command. For example:

There is no reason for you to be afraid.
-or-
Do not be troubled/frightened.

Translate the meaning in a way that is natural in your language.

Jesus asked: This clause introduces Jesus’ response to the disciples’ fear. Jesus asked them two rhetorical questions. Some other ways to introduce these questions are:

Then he said to them (NET Bible)
-or-
But Jesus said (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He asked them (God’s Word)

Notice that the Contemporary English Version example begins with “But.” This implies that the disciples’ fear contrasts with the faith and joy that they should be feeling when they saw Jesus. Introduce the rhetorical questions in a natural way in your language.

24:38b

and why do doubts arise in your hearts?: This is a rhetorical question. It implies that there was no reason to doubt that he was really alive. They could now see him with their own eyes. It is a gentle way to say that they should stop doubting that he is alive.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How is it that you have these doubts?
-or-
Is there any reason for you to doubt ⌊me⌋?

• As a statement or command. For example:

There is no reason for you to have these doubts.
-or-
Do not continue to doubt ⌊that I am alive⌋.

Translate the meaning in a way that is natural in your language.

doubts arise in your hearts: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as doubts arise in your hearts is an idiom. It has the same meaning as the verb “doubt.” Some ways to translate it are:

• Translate the meaning directly without using an idiom. For example:

you doubt (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you doubt what you see (New Century Version)

• Use an idiom that has the same meaning in your language. For example:

your hearts filled with doubt (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

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