29When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
The Greek that is translated into English as “(this) generation” is translated as “the people now” into Chol, “those who are in space now” into Tzeltal or “you people” into Tlahuitoltepec Mixe. (Source: Bratcher / Nida; Mixe: Robert Bascom)
Generic terms for the Greek that is translated as “generation” include “(people of one) layer” (Ekari, Toraja-Sa’dan, Batak Toba), or “one storey of growing” (Highland Totonac, using a term also denoting a storey or floor of a building). (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
The Greek that is typically translated in English as “sign” is translated in Huehuetla Tepehua as “thing to be marveled at” (source: Larson 1889, p. 279) and in Mairasi as “big work” (source: Enggavoter 2004).
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts “swallow (by a large fish).” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 11:29:
Noongar: “As the crowd came close to Jesus, he spoke again, ‘They are very evil, people of today! They seek a sign, but no sign will be given to them, only Jonah’s sign.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “When the many people crowded-around Yesus, he continued his words, he said: ‘The people who live at this time are very evil. they request that I show them surprising signs/miracles. But there is not one miracle that will shown to them. The only thing that will be shown to them is a sign like that which happened to the prophet Yunus long ago.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When the people who were surrounding Isa were increasing (in number) he said to them, ‘You, the people of now, you are bad. You demand to be shown signs so that you can recognise me if I am truly from God. But there will be no sign shown to you except only the sign of Prophet Yunus of old.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then when the very many people were pressing to get near to Jesus, he said to them, ‘As for you people today, very evil are your customs. You desire to see a sign which comes from God in Heaven, as proof that He sent me. But the only sign that will be shown to you is like that which the prophet of God long ago, Jonah, was caused to do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The many-people increasingly crowded-around Jesus, and he continued saying, ‘The people now are evil, because they insist that I show them an amazing sign, but emphatically none will be shown except (lit. if not only) a sign like what happened to Jonas back before.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When people kept on arriving, Jesus spoke saying, ‘As for people today/now, their nature/ways are really evil. For they are requesting a sign having-to-do-with the sky/heaven. However none will be shown to them except that one, that which was pictured in what was experienced by Jonas who was that prophet of the past.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
tōn de ochlōn epathroizomenōn ‘when the crowds were increasing,’ or, ‘were crowding together,’ preferably the latter. epathroizomai.
ērxato legein ‘he began to say,’ cf. on 4.21.
genea ponēra estin ‘is an evil generation.’ The repetition of genea is intentional and emphatic.
sēmeion zētei ‘it demands a sign,’ cf. on v. 16.
kai sēmeion ou dothēsetai … ei mē to sēmeion Iōna ‘and no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah,’ cf. on v. 30.
Translation:
Were increasing, preferably, ‘were crowding around Jesus.’
This generation is an evil generation, or, “how evil are the people of this day” (Good News Translation), and cf. on 7.31.
No sign … except, or, ‘no other sign … but,’ ‘the only sign that … is,’ ‘(no more than) one sign…, namely.’
Shall be given. The implied agent is God.
The sign of Jonah, or, where necessary to clarify the relationship between noun and proper name, something like, ‘the sign that (or, a sign like the one that) Jonah gave,’ ‘the one Jonah showed/produced.’ The rendering of sign should bring out the signifying, not the miraculous aspect.
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.
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