The Greek in Luke 4:6 that is translated as “this authority and their glory” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with strahlende Macht or “radiant power.”
devil
The Greek that is translated in English as “devil” (itself via late Latin from Greek diabolos: “accuser, slanderer”) is sometimes translated with indigenous specific names, such as “the avaricious one” in Tetelcingo Nahuatl, “the malicious deity” in Toraja-Sa’dan (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel), or in Yoruba as èṣù. “Èṣù is thought of as bringing evil, but also as giving protection. The birth of a child may be attributed to him, as the names given to some babies show, Èṣùbiyi (Èṣù brought this forth), and Èṣùtoyin (Èṣù is worthy of praise).” (Source: John Hargreaves in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 39ff. . See also this article by Tunde Adegbola: Èṣù is not Satan: A Christian apologist’s perspective .)
Other translations include:
- Muna: Kafeompu’ando seetani or “Master of the evil-spirits” (source: René van den Berg)
- Mairasi: owe er epar nan or “headman of malevolent spirits” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
- Central Subanen: Palin or “Perverter” (incl. in 2 Cor. 6:15) (source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “chief of demons”
- Ojitlán Chinantec: as “head of the worldlings” (source for the last two: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125).
- Mandarin Chinese móguǐ (魔鬼), literally “magical ghost.” This is a term that was adopted from Buddhist sources into early Catholic writings and later also by Protestant translators. (Source: Zetzsche 1996, p. 32)
- Uma: “King of Evil-ones” (source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “leader of demons” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Bariai: “the bad man” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- Kupsabiny: “the Enemy” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
In Lak and Shughni it is translated with terms of feminine gender. Vitaly Voinov tells this story (click or tap here to see the rest of this insight):
“In the Lak language of Dagestan, the names ‘Iblis’ and ‘sheytan’ (referring to Satan and his minions, respectively) in this language were borrowed from the Arabic Islamic tradition, but they entered Lak as feminine nouns, not masculine nouns. This means that they grammatically function like nouns referring to females in Lak; in other words, Laks are likely to think of Iblis as a woman, not a man, because of the obligatory grammatical patterning of Lak noun classes. Thus, when the team explained (in Russian) what the Lak translation of Jesus’ wilderness temptation narrative at the beginning of Matthew 4 said, it sounded something like the following: ‘After this, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Iblis… .The temptress came to Jesus, and she said to Him…’
“Since this information (that the devil is a female spirit) is part of the very name used for Satan in Lak, nothing can really be done about this in the translation. The Lak translator did not think that the feminine gender of Iblis should cause any serious misunderstandings among readers, so we agreed to leave it in the translation. Prior to this, I had never heard about languages in which the devil is pictured as a woman, but recently I was told by a speaker of the Shughni language that in their language Sheytan is also feminine. This puts an interesting spin on things. The devil is of course a spirit, neither male nor female in a biologically-meaningful sense. But Bible translators are by nature very risk-aversive and, where possible, want to avoid any translation that might feed misleading information to readers. So what can a translator do about this? In many cases, such as the present one, one has to just accept the existing language structure and go on.”
See also unclean spirit / evil spirit, demon, and Beelzebul.
formal pronoun: demons or Satan addressing Jesus
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, Satan, demons or demon-possessed men address Jesus with the formal pronoun, signaling submission. Jesus on the other hand, responds with an informal pronoun which signals his more powerful position.
In Burmese there are three different levels of speech: common language, religious language (addressing and honoring monks, etc.), and royal language (which is not in active use anymore). Earliest Bible translations used exclusively royal and religious language (in the way Jesus is addressed by others and in the way Jesus is referred to via pronouns), which results in Jesus being divine and not human. Later editions try to make distinctions. In the Common Language Version (publ. 2005), Satan is shown to recognize Jesus as Lord when he addresses Jesus as ko taw (ကိုယ်တော်) (see pronoun for “God”). At the same time he is rude to Jesus when he refers to himself by the pronoun nga (ငါ) which indicates a similar or superior position, declaring himself to be the same or superior to Jesus’ Lordship. (See Matthew 4:9 and Luke 4:6 and 7.) (Source: Gam Seng Shae in The Bible Translator 2002, p. 202ff. )
glory
Since Saint Lucian Creole French does not have one term for the Greek that is typically translated as “glory” in English, David Frank (in: Lexical Challenges in the St. Lucian Creole Bible Translation Project , 1998) gives examples on how varied that term is translated in its many mentions in Luke:
“The primary meaning of that Greek word is ‘bright, visible splendor.’ The same word has a variety of secondary and extended senses. Since there is not a well-understood Creole word for ‘glory’ and we had to translate it according to meaning, the renderings of ‘glory’ in Creole were diverse, as the following examples, all from the book of Luke, show:
- Luke 2:9: èvèk klèté Bondyé té ka kléwé toupatou anlè yo (‘and God’s light was shining everywhere on them’)
- Luke 2:14a: An syèl yo ka glowifyé Bondyé, yo ka di i gwan (‘In heaven they are praising God, they are saying he is great‘)
- Luke 2:32b: èk i kay fè Izwayèl on plas pou moun konnèt (‘and he will make Israel a place for people to know‘)
- Luke 4:6a: Mwen kay ba’w tout pouvwa èk wichès sé wéyòm sala (‘I will give you all power and riches of these kingdoms’)
- Luke 9:26b: lè mwen kay vini an pouvwa mwen ka kléwé kon zéklè (‘when I will come in my power shining like lightning‘)
- Luke 12:27b: pa menm Sòlomonn an tout wichès li ki té sa abiyé otan bèl kon yonn anpami yo (‘not even Solomon in all his riches was dressed as nice as one of them’)
- Luke 14:10b: Sa kay ba’w lonnè wèspé an zyé lézòt sé moun-an (‘That will give you honor respect in the eyes of the other people’)
- Luke 17:18: ki viwé di Bondyé mèsi (‘who returned to tell God thank you‘)
- Luke 19:38b: Annou glowifyé Bondyé (‘Let’s praise God’)
- Luke 21:27: épi pouvwa èk gwan klèté (‘with power and great light‘)
- Luke 24:26: èk apwé sa i kay jwenn wèspé (‘and after that he will get respect‘)
complete verse (Luke 4:6)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 4:6:
- Noongar: “The Devil said to him, ‘I will give you all these things, great power and wealth. Now I own all this, and I can give everything to the person I want.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
- Uma: “and he said to him: ‘The authority to rule all those kingdoms and all their wealth, I will give it all to you (sing.), because I am the lord of all, and I can give it whomever I want.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “The leader of the demons said to him, ‘I will give you authority so that you can rule over all these countries and their riches. For this has been given/handed over to me and I can give it to whoever I want to.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Satan said, ‘The rule over all these kingdoms and all of this wealth I will give to you. The rule over all of these is given to me, and it’s possible for me also to give it to whom ever I want to.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “The Diablo said, ‘I will give you (sing.) the authority to rule-over all those so that their wealth will be yours (sing.). Because all were given to me, and I am able to give them also to whomever I want.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Satanas said, ‘I really will submit to you the control and praiseworthiness/glory of all these kingdoms, for all of them are given to me. Therefore I can give them to whoever I want.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Bariai: “And then the bad man said to him, ‘I will put all these areas with their good things up into your hand. For it’s existing in my hand, and so I’m able to give it to whomever I want.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
- Kupsabiny (verses 6 and 7): “He told Jesus, ‘If you kneel for me, I will give you the authority to rule all these countries, because I have the authority to give to any one whom I have accepted/chosen.'” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Mairasi: “Then the malevolent spirit said to Yesus: “I will give You the authorities, the many things, everything in this world. Because all of these things I myself have already received then whoever [is in] my throat [to whomever I have in mind], then I will give it to him.” (Source Enggavoter 2004)
Sung version of Luke 4
Translation commentary on Luke 4:6
Exegesis:
kai eipen autō ho diabolos ‘and the devil said to him.’ The subject ho diabolos is also the subject to the preceding clause (where it is not mentioned). This tends to characterize v. 6 as the event to which v. 5 leads up.
soi dōsō tēn exousian tautēn hapasan ‘to you I will give all this power.’ soi is emphatic. dōsō ‘I will give’ does not mean unconditional giving as v. 7 shows.
exousia ‘power,’ ‘authority,’ in a concrete sense ‘ruling power,’ or, ‘domain in which the power is exercised.’ As the demonstrative pronoun tautēn refers to ‘the kingdoms of the world’ of v. 5, exousia must mean here either ‘the power, or, rule over these kingdoms,’ or, ‘this domain.’ The latter interpretation is preferable.
kai tēn doxan autōn ‘and their glory.’ autōn refers back to ‘the kingdoms,’ implied in exousian ‘domain,’ which is in the singular.
hoti emoi paradedotai ‘for to me it has been delivered.’ emoi is emphatic. For paradidōmi cf. on 1.2; here it is used in a neutral sense without the implication of trust or right. Subject of paradedotai is exousia.
kai hō ean thelō didōmi autēn ‘and to any one I please I give it.’ hō ean thelō scil. didonai ‘to anyone I please to give (it),’ conditional-relative clause, stressing the assumption on the part of the devil that it is his privilege, and his only, to give away the power he holds.
didōmi means here ‘I can give’ or ‘I am in a position to give,’ synonymous with paradidōmi.
Translation:
To you I will give all this authority and their glory, or, following the interpretation preferred in Exegesis, ‘all this domain (or, land to rule over) and their glory.’ This incongruous use of the pronouns is unacceptable in many languages; hence, ‘and the glory of the kingdoms in it,’ or, ‘and its glory.’ The other possible meaning of Gr. exousia will result in something like, ‘give you all the authority over (or, the right to rule) all this (land) and (to possess) its glory (or, the glory of the kingdoms of it).’ The verb to give (or a synonym of it) may have to be repeated before the second object. The usual rendering of glory (for which see on 2.9) may not fit here, because the context is uncommon. Several of these points, and some further adjustments, are illustrated in the following quotations, ‘I will give-you that you-will be-in-charge-of all these things, and I-will also give you their-beauty’ (Trukese), ‘you are the one I-will-cause-to-hold this, and included completely everything in it that always satisfies the breath of man (an expression covering fame, wealth, pleasures)’ (Tboli), ‘I-will-give-you you-will-possess and I-will-give-you you-will-enjoy-its-goodness all this’ (Tzeltal), .’.. the ruling of all this kingdom and its fame’ (Shona).
It has been delivered to me, or, ‘handed over to me,’ ‘given to me’ (Tae,’ same verb as used in the next clause); or in active construction, ‘I have received it in my hands’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘it is in my possession.’
I give it to whom I will, or, ‘to whom I want to give it, I am able to give it’ (Tzeltal, similarly Cuyono), ‘it is my pleasure now to cause-to-hold-it the person I choose’ (Tboli), ‘if I want to give it to a person, I (can) do so.’
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 4:6
4:6a
There is a Greek conjunction at the beginning of this verse that is often translated as “and.” Many English versions, including the New International Version, NET Bible, and English Standard Version, translate it that way. In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:
The devil said to Jesus (New Century Version)
Connect 4:5 to 4:6 in a way that is natural in your language.
I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory: The phrase I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory means “I will cause you to rule over all these nations and receive their glory and greatness.” The devil promised to make Jesus the leader of the whole world.
authority: The word authority here means “the right to rule people and the power to control them.” It is the power to tell everyone else what to do. The Good News Translation translates this word as:
power
glory: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as glory expresses the idea of the greatness, magnificence, and beauty of the nations. The devil promised Jesus the glory/greatness that accompanies being the ruler of a nation. Here the glory would be even greater because he would be ruler of all the nations. See glory, sense A1(a), in Key Biblical Terms.
You could translate 4:6a as:
The devil said to Jesus, “I will give you power/authority over the leaders of all these countries and all their glory.”
he said: In Greek, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he said is literally “he said to him.” The phrase comes at the beginning of the verse in Greek. You should place these words where it is natural in your language to identify the speaker of this quotation.
4:6b
For it has been relinquished to me: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the reason clause (4:6b) of a reason-result statement. The result is implied. The implied information is “I can do this” or “I can give you this authority.”
Result (implied)
⌊I can give you this authority,
⌋
reason (4:6b)
for/because it has been given to me.
Some ways to translate this are:
• Include the implied information and the with 4:6b. For example:
⌊I can give you this authority,⌋ for/because it has been given to me.
-or-
This authority has been given to me. Therefore/So ⌊I can give it to you⌋.
• Translate 4:6b–c as a separate sentence and leave the relationship implied. For example:
6aI will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms. 6bAll of it has been given to me, 6cand I give it to anyone I please. (God’s Word)
it has been relinquished to me: The phrase it has been relinquished to me means “this authority has been given to me.” The verb is passive. Some ways to translate this are:
• Use a passive clause. For example:
this authority has been given to me
• Use an active clause. For example:
I have obtained this authority
-or-
I have received the power over these nations
Satan did not say from whom he received this authority. Because it is unlikely that Satan would credit God with this, you should avoid something like, “God gave me this authority.”
4:6c
and I can give it to anyone I wish: In Greek this part of the verse is more literally “and to whomever I want I give it.” The devil claimed that he could give the authority over all nations (4:6a) to anyone he chose. (Of course, he did not really have this authority.)
Some other ways to translate this are:
and I can give it to anyone I choose (Good News Translation)
-or-
and I can give it to anyone I wish (NET Bible)
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