knock

The Greek that is translated as “knock (on a door)” in English is translated as “call” (Zanaki, Yanesha’) “speak” (Tzeltal), or “clap” (Zarma).

This is sometimes due to the fact that doors are not being used in the respective cultures (as, for instance, in Yanesha’) or, as Nida (p. 45f.) explains, other cultural differences:

“One cannot say to the Zanaki people along the winding shores of sprawling Lake Victoria, ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock’ (Revelation 3:20). This would mean that Christ was declaring Himself to be a thief, for in Zanaki land thieves generally make it a practice to knock on the door of a hut which they hope to burglarize; and if they hear any movement or noise inside, they dash off into the dark. An honest man will come to a house and call the name of the person inside, and in this way identify himself by his voice. Accordingly, in the Zanaki translation it is necessary to say, ‘Behold I stand at the door and call.’ This wording might be slightly strange to us, but the meaning is the same. In each case Christ is asking people to open the door. He is no thief and He will not force an entrance; He knocks — and in Zanaki “He calls.” If anything the Zanaki expression is a little more personal than our own.”

Sources: Nida 1952 (Zanaki); Duff Tripp, p. 310 (Yanesha’); Reiling / Swellengrebel (Tzeltal, Zarma).

See also complete verse (Rev. 3:20) and knock (Rev. 3:20).

complete verse (Luke 11:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 11:9:

  • Noongar: “‘And so, I say to you: Ask, and you will be given; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘So, I say to you: request to God, he will give to us. Search for our needs to God, we will receive/find. Let us not give-up/stop asking-to-be-opened the door, God will open the door for us.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore I say to you: Ask and you will certainly be given. Search/look-for and you will find. Ask to be let in and it will be opened to you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And it’s true what I say to you, that you should keep on begging God, and you will certainly receive what you’re asking for. Keep on looking and he will cause you to find what you are looking for. Keep on calling-at-the-door, and he will open it for you,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘I tell you (pl.) then, you should always be-requesting God and he will give you what you are requesting. Continue also to search and you will find what you are searching for. You should moreover persist in knocking and the door (lit. doorway) will be opened so you can enter.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore this is what I say to you. Keep on requesting from God, for it’s certain that he will give to you. Keep on searching for what you need from him, for he will help you to find. Plead to be allowed to enter his presence, for he really will respond-favorably.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 11:9

Exegesis:

kagō humin legō ‘and I tell you’ (cf. on 3.8), indicating that the inferences will be drawn from vv. 5-8, cf. 16.9.

aiteite, kai dothēsetai humin ‘ask and (it) will be given to you.’ aiteite is best understood as referring to prayer. The object of aiteite is not indicated, nor the subject of dothēsetai. The agent of dothēsetai is God, and the nature of what is sought and given is indicated by pneuma hagion in v. 13.

zēteite, kai heurēsete ‘seek and you shall find,’ again without indication of the object.

krouete, kai anoigēsetai humin ‘knock and (the door) will be opened to you.’ For this picture cf. 13.24f, where the entrance into the kingdom of God is referred to.

krouō ‘to knock at the door.’

Translation:

Ask. If an object has to be added, one may use, ‘what you need.’

It will be given you, or, ‘you will receive it,’ ‘God will give you what you ask.’

Seek. For an object, if required again, see above.

You will find, cf. on 2.12. Add, if necessary, ‘it,’ or, ‘what you seek.’

Knock and it will be opened to you, or, ‘knock at the door and it will be opened to you,’ or, ‘knock and the door will open to you, or, God will open the door for you.’ Where it is not customary to ask admittance by knocking, one may have to use ‘call’ (some Mexican languages, and Zanaki), ‘speak’ (Tzeltal), ‘clap’ (Zarma), the normal terms for announcing one’s arrival. The use of ‘entrance/doorway’ for ‘door’ may entail the use of ‘to allow to enter’ instead of to open. Cf. also on 12.36.

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.