Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
In these verses, the Greek that is translated as “need” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-iriyō (お入り用), combining “need” (iriyō) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
In these verses, the Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “restore” or “pay back” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-kaeshi (お返し), combining “restore” (kaeshi) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Jesús y los discípulos estaban caminando y vieron enfrente de ellos el Monte de los Olivos.
Allá cerca estaba el pueblo de Betania y más allá Betfagé, cerca de Jerusalén.
Jesús dijo a dos discípulos: Uds dos vayanse al pueblo de Betfagé y verán que hay un burro chico que todavía no ha sido montado por nadie.
El burro está atado, quiten la cuerda y si alguien les dice: “¿porqué toman el burro?” uds dos digan: “espera un poco, Jesús necesita el burro, nosotros dos lo tomamos y después vendremos otra vez aquí y dejaremos el burro.”
Jesús (dijo): “¿entienden?” Y los discipulos lo afirmaron y se fueron a Betfagé y yendo por el camino vieron una casa y a la puerta había un burro atado.
Los dos lo desataron y alguien los vio y dijo: ¿Porqué toman el burro? Los dos discípulos se dieron cuenta de que era exactamente lo que Jesús había dicho antes y dijeron: “Mira” y lo explicaron, y las personas (dijeron): “Sí, tienen permiso, vayanse.”
Los dos discípulos tomaron el burro y lo llevaron, y pusieron sus mantos en la espalda del burro.
Jesús montó el burro y fueron y una multitud de personas vino y caminaba con ellos y punían sus mantos en la calle, y cortaban ramas de los árboles y las ponían en el camino.
Jesús estaba andando el burro y muchas personas caminaban enfrente de él y atrás de él caminaba mucha gente y estaban alegres y gritaban: “alabado sea Dios que ya ha entregado la autoridad a Jesús, Dios bendiga su familia, la descendencia del Rey David de mucho antes, este es el rey bendito, ¡huy! Dios, salvanos ahorita.”
La multitud estaba caminando y Jesús estaba andando en el burro y llegaron al templo de Jerusalén y Jesús miró al templo, y como ya era tarde Jesús regresó al pueblo de Betania.
Jesus and the disciples were walking and they saw in front of them the Mount of Olives.
Over there close by was the village of Bethany and further on Bethphage, near Jerusalem.
Jesus said to two disciples: “You two go off to the village of Bethphage and you will say that there is a little donkey there that nobody has ridden yet.
“The donkey is tied up, take off the rope and if anyone says to you: ‘Why are you taking the donkey?’ tell them: ‘Wait a little, Jesus needs the donkey, we will take it and afterwards we will come here again and leave the donkey.'”
Jesus (said): “understood?” And the disciples affirmed and went to Bethphage, and going on their way they saw a house and at the door there was a donkey tied up.
The two of them untied it and someone saw them and said: “Why are you taking the donkey?” The disciples realized that it was exactly what Jesus had just said and they said: “Look” and they explained it and the people (said): “Yes, you have permission, off you go.”
The two disciples took the donkey and led it away and they put their mantles on the back of the donkey.
Jesus got on the donkey and they went and a multitude of people came and walked with them and they put their mantles on the road and cut branches of the trees and put them on the road.
Jesus was riding on the donkey and many people walked in front of him and behind him came many people and they were happy and shouted: “Praise be to God who has given the authority to Jesus, God bless his family, the descendants of King David of long ago, this is the blessed king, wow. God, save us now.”
The multitude was walking and Jesus was riding on the donkey and they arrived at the temple in Jerusalem and Jesus looked around in the temple, and since it was already late he went back to the village of Bethany.
Jesus and His twelve disciples were approaching the city of Jerusalem. In front of Jerusalem there is a mountain called the Mount of Olives. There are two villages near the mountain, Bethphage and Bethany. Jesus called the two disciples to him and said to them:
— Go to that village over there. There is a young donkey there. None of the people have ever ridden it before. The donkey will be tied up. You will untie him and bring him here. If, when you untie him, people will be displeased and will ask, “What is this for? Why are you untying him? What are you doing?”, answer them, “Our master needs this donkey,” and then people will allow it.
The two disciples went to the village, and there they saw a donkey tied at the gate. The disciples began to untie it. People saw it, started to come up and asked, “Why are you doing this? Why do you untie it?” The disciples answered as Jesus told them to. Then the people allowed it. The disciples brought the young donkey to Jesus. The disciples took off their cloaks and put them on the back of the donkey. Jesus sat on top and rode on top of the donkey. Many people gathered around. Many took off their cloaks and laid them on the road in front of Jesus. Others cut palm branches and laid them on the road. Jesus was riding on a donkey, and the people crowded around him, shouting:
— Jesus! Glory to you! May God bless you! You have come by the will of the Lord God! God bless you! You will reign! You are a descendant of King David. You will also reign! God’s glory is in heaven!
And Jesus continued to ride on the young donkey. Then Jesus entered Jerusalem. He went into the temple and looked around. It was late in the evening. Jesus and the 12 disciples traveled back to the village of Bethany.
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Иисус с двенадцатью учениками подходили к городу Иерусалим. Перед Иерусалимом есть гора, называемая «Масличная». Возле горы есть две деревни — Вифагия и Вифания. Иисус подозвал к себе двух учеников и сказал им:
— Идите вон в ту деревню. Там есть молодой ослик. Никто из людей еще не ездил на нем верхом. Ослик будет привязан. Вы отвяжите его и приведите его сюда. Если, когда вы будете его отвязывать, люди будут недовольны и будут спрашивать: «Зачем это? Зачем вы его отвязываете? Что вы делаете?», ответьте им: «Нашему хозяину нужен этот осел», и тогда люди разрешат.
Два ученика отправились в деревню, там они увидели осла, привязанного у ворот. Ученики стали отвязывать его. Люди увидели это, стали подходить, стали спрашивать: «Зачем вы это делаете? Зачем отвязываете?» Ученики отвечали так, как велел им Иисус. Тогда люди разрешили. Ученики привели молодого осла к Иисусу. Ученики сняли с себя плащи и положили на спину осла. Иисус сел сверху и поехал верхом на осле. Множество людей собралось вокруг. Многие снимали свои одежды и стлали их по дороге, перед Иисусом. Другие срезали пальмовые ветви и клали их на дорогу. Иисус ехал верхом на осле, а вокруг толпились люди, и они кричали:
— Иисус! Слава тебе! Пусть Бог благословит тебя! Ты пришел по воле Господа Бога! бог благословляет тебя! Ты будешь царствовать! Ты потомок царя Давида. Ты также будешь царствовать! На небесах Божья слава!
А Иисус продолжал ехать верхом на молодом осле. И вот Иисус вступил в Иерусалим. Он вошел в храм, все там обошел и осмотрел. Был уже поздний вечер. Иисус и 12 учеников отправились обратно в деревню Вифания.
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 11:3:
Uma: “If anyone asks you what you are untying it, say to them like this: ‘Because the Lord needs it, he’ll borrow it a while and then return it.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “If somebody asks as to why you take it, say, ‘The Lord/Leader has use for it; he will immediately send it back here.’ ‘” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if somone asks you why you are getting that asnu, you say, ‘Our (incl.) boss Jesus needs this, and he will return it today in a little while.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “If someone asks you, ‘Why are you untying that?’ say, ‘Our (excl.) Lord needs-it,’ and he will permit it immediately.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “If anyone comments to you as to why you are untying it, say, ‘The Lord needs it. He will indeed return it here soon.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
After apostellei ‘he sends’ Textus Receptus omits palin ‘again,’ which is retained by all modern editions of the Greek text (this omission sensibly alters the meaning of the phrase: cf. King James Version and Exegesis, below).
Exegesis:
ho kurios autou chreian echei ‘the Lord has need of it’: the majority of translations thus render the phrase, understanding ho kurios as meaning ‘the Lord,’ in the Christian sense of the word. Commentators, however, call attention to the fact that in Mark (and Matthew also) this would be the only place in the narrative of Jesus’ ministry where the title is applied to him. Some have tried to meet this difficulty by taking ho kurios as ‘the Master’ (cf. Goodspeed, The Modern Speech New Testament, Manson; Lagrange le Maître, but in his translation Le Seigneur). This would hardly seem correct in view of the use of the terms ho didaskalos (cf. 4.38 and references) and rabbi (cf. 9.5 and references) ‘the Teacher’ throughout the Gospel. Taylor, therefore, suggests that ho kurios is the owner of the animal, and the phrase means ‘the owner needs it.’ This interpretation has been further expanded by the suggestion that Jesus himself was the owner of the animal. McNeile points out that some Syriac versions and Ephraim join autou to ho kurios “as though Jesus claimed to be the real master of the animal.” So Translator’s New Testament translates, ‘Its owner needs it.’
If ho kurios in the sense of ‘the Lord’ be taken as the exact equivalent of what Jesus said to the two disciples, in the historical context of the incident the phrase could only mean, ‘God needs the animal.’ Commentators point out, however, that here, as often, we may not have the very words spoken by Jesus.
kai euthus auton apostellei palin hodē ‘and immediately he sends it back here’: part of the reply the disciples were to give to any who might raise objections to their taking the animal. The subject of apostellei ‘he sends’ is ho kurios of the preceding clause. The King James Version translation is based on the Textus Receptus omission of palin ‘again,’ with the meaning ‘and he (i.e. the man who might object) will send him here.’
apostellei palin ‘he sends again,’ i.e. ‘sends back,’ ‘returns.’
Translation:
Doing this may require a more specific reference, rather than this generic substitute, e.g. ‘untying the animal.’
The Lord is admittedly a difficult expression, but it is probably best to take this as a third person reference to Jesus. One difficulty is involved in the fact that this is put in the form of a direct statement, which in some languages would require ‘I, the Lord,’ as spoken by Jesus. However, Jesus is stating what the disciples should say, not what he himself is declaring to them. This problem can be resolved somewhat in certain languages by shifting the form into indirect discourse, e.g. ‘say that the Lord has need of it….’ In languages which require a possessive of ‘Lord,’ one can translate as ‘our Lord’ or ‘our Master’ (in the direct form) or as ‘your Lord’ or ‘your Master’ (in the indirect form of discourse).
Has need of it is translatable as ‘must use the animal’ or ‘has need to ride it.’
Send it back should not be translated with the connotation of letting the donkey come back alone, but ‘cause it to be led back.’
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
If anyone asks: The clause If anyone asks refers to an event that might happen when the disciples went to take the donkey. Someone might ask the disciples why they were taking the donkey. This event had not yet happened when Jesus said this.
Here is another way to translate the phrase:
Someone may ask you
Why are you doing this?: This is both a real and rhetorical question. People might ask the reason why the disciples were untying the colt. They would ask this because they knew that the colt did not belong to the disciples. They would disapprove of what the disciples did. It may be clearer to use an indirect quotation here. For example, the Good News Bible translates 11:3a as follows:
And if someone asks you why you are doing that
11:3b
tell him, ‘The Lord needs it: The words tell him introduce what Jesus wanted the disciples to say to anyone who might ask why they were taking the colt. It may be clearer to use an indirect quotation. For example, the Good News Bible translates 11:3b as follows:
say that the Master needs it
See also the General Comment on 11:3b–c below.
Lord: The word Lord means “master,” or “the one who has authority over others.” See how you translated this word in 1:3b. Also, see Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.
11:3c
and will return it shortly: There is a textual issue in this verse:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word again. The versions that follow these manuscripts understand 11:3c to refer to what Jesus would do. He would soon send the donkey again/back to the owners. For example, the NET Bible says:
3bThe Lord needs it 3cand will send it back here soon.
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible)
(2) Other Greek manuscripts do not have the word again. The versions that follow these manuscripts understand 11:3c to refer to what the donkey’s owner would do as a result of Jesus’ request. The donkey’s owner would immediately send the donkey to the Lord. For example, the God’s Word says:
3bsay that the Lord needs it. 3cThat person will send it here at once.
(King James Version, God’s Word, New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1). However, if the national language version in your area follows option (2), then you may want to follow it.
If you follow option (2), you may want to consider putting option (1) in a footnote. For example:
Some Greek manuscripts have the word “again/back.” These manuscripts indicate that Jesus would soon send the donkey back to the owners.
General Comment on 11:3b–c
In 11:3b–c, Jesus told the disciples how they should answer anyone who asked them why they were taking the colt. The words “The Lord needs it” in 11:3b answer the question “why?” The words “and will send it back here shortly” in 11:3c do not answer the question. They give additional information. For this reason, you may need to make these into separate sentences. For example:
3bBecause the Lord needs it. 3cHe will send it back here soon.
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.
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