complete verse (Luke 6:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 6:31:

  • Noongar: “Do for other people everything you want them to do for you.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “What behavior we want others to do to us, that also we must do to others.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And whatever you want that people do to you, that do to him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The good thing that you want that other people should do to you, that is what you should do to them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Do to your (pl.) fellows what you want them to do to you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, do to others that which you want to be what they will also do to you.” (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 6:31

Exegesis:

kai kathōs thelete hina poiōsin humin hoi anthrōpoi ‘and as you wish that people do to you.’ Again the number shifts to the plural as vv. 27-28 and also all following verses till v. 38. kai may mean, ‘and in short’ or ‘and further,’ introducing a rule which does apply to all human relationships (cf. Bruce, Weiss). The latter is preferable. kathōs corresponds with homoiōs, indicating a rather strong correspondence, as bought out by Phillips (“exactly as”) and Translator’s New Testament (“just as”).

Translation:

The imperative clause is sometimes better placed first, as done in several English versions, Balinese, Shona 1966, Kituba.

As … so …, or, ‘that which … that is what…’ (Tboli), ‘the things (that) … the same things….’ If the clause order is changed the connexion may be expressed only once, cf. e.g. ‘do to men exactly as (or, just what) you wish….’

To do to, or, ‘to treat,’ ‘to behave towards.’

Men, or, “your fellowmen” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation), ‘others’ (cf. New English Bible, Good News Translation, Sranan Tongo, Shona 1966, Tzeltal), better to bring out the contrast to ‘you.’

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 6:31

6:31

In this verse Jesus returned to using “you(plur).” It is a general statement that summarizes how to show love to others. Many people refer to this statement as “The Golden Rule.”

Do to others as you would have them do to you: This statement means, “Behave toward other people in the way that you want them to behave toward you.” Some other ways to translate this are:

Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you. (NET Bible)
-or-
Do for other people everything you want them to do for you. (God’s Word)
-or-
As you want people to treat you, treat them that way.

In some languages, it may be more natural to follow the Greek order of the verse. For example:

And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. (Revised Standard Version)

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