complete verse (Luke 11:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 11:25:

  • Noongar: “So the evil spirit returns and he sees the house cleaned and mended.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “When he returns going to the person that he left earlier, he sees (emphatic) that there is no-one living in him. That person is like a house that is swept clean, it looks neat/orderly.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When he arrives there, he sees that it is swept and prepared already.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he returns and he finds that place where he lived, and all things are put in their proper place and it has been thoroughly cleaned.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And he will return and come-upon it already cleaned and nicer than before.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And then on his arrival, he will find that he hasn’t been succeeded by another, although it’s now like a house which is cleaned and in order now.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 11:25

Exegesis:

heuriskei sesarōmenon kai kekosmēmenon ‘he finds (the house) swept clean and in order,’ with oikon understood. That the house is also untenanted may be fairly inferred.

saroō (also 15.8) ‘to sweep clean,’ ‘to clean.’

kosmeō (also 21.5) ‘to put in order,’ or ‘to decorate,’ here preferably the former.

Translation:

He finds it swept, or, ‘sees/discovers that it is swept,’ cf. on 7.10. Explanation of the metaphorical use of ‘house’ in v. 24 may lead here to something like, ‘he finds that man like a house swept’ (Dios Habla Hoy). Swept, or, “swept clean” (New English Bible, adding the result), “cleaned” (An American Translation, substituting the result). The verb is often a derivation of, or a phrase containing, ‘broom/brush.’ The implied agent is ‘people,’ ‘somebody.’

Put in order, i.e. all things (in it) put in their right place.

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.