human head hair

The Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew that is translated as “hair” in English is translated in Tzeltal as stsotsil sjol (Tzeltal de Oxchuc y Tenejapa) / stsotsel sjol (Tzeltal Bachajón): “blanket for the head.” (Source: Slocum / Watkins 1988, p. 35)

See also hair (body hair) and hairy (like Esau).

complete verse (Luke 12:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 12:7:

  • Noongar: “God knows all the hairs of your head. So don’t fear! God loves you much more than all the birds.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Even more so you. Even the number [lit, many-ness] of your hair he counts and he knows all. So do not be afraid. God’s taking-care-of you is greater than his taking-care-of many sparrows.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, even more so you, God will not forget you. He even knows as to how many hairs you have. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are more valuable to him than many birds.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And how much more are you, because if you count one by one your hairs, He already knows how many there are. Therefore, don’t be afraid, because you are far more precious to Him than even very many birds.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Especially-more you who are people! Because even your hairs, he knows their number. Therefore don’t be afraid, because each one of you is far-away more-important than how many (lit. “the manyness of”) rice-birds (see here)!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well as for you, he is really taking care of you, that even your hair, he has them all counted. Therefore don’t fear what might happen to you here in the world, because all is under the control of God, and he really values you, much more than a large-flock of ricebirds (see here ).'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 12:7

Exegesis:

alla kai serves to introduce a clause which contrasts with, and goes beyond, the preceding clause, ‘but (more than that), even…’ (cf. New English Bible), or ‘not only this but even….’

hai triches tēs kephalēs humōn ‘the hairs of the head of (each of) you.’

pasai ērithmēntai ‘are all counted,’ scil. enōpion tou theou ‘in the sight of God,’ also in the perfect tense, cf. v. 6.

arithmeō ‘to count,’ ‘to number.’

mē phobeisthe ‘do not fear,’ i.e. ‘stop fearing,’ cf. on 1.13.

pollōn strouthiōn diapherete “you are of more value than many sparrows” (Revised Standard Version). The plural form of the verb has distributive meaning, since each single person is of more value than many sparrows.

diapherō (also v. 24) ‘to be worth more,’ ‘to be superior,’ with genitive of that to which one is superior.

Translation:

The hairs of (or, on) your head are all numbered, or, ‘the number of all the hairs … is known,’ ‘God knows how many hairs there are on your head.’ For hairs of the head see 7.38.

You are of more value than many sparrows, i.e. your value (figurative) is more than the value/price (literal) of many sparrows, and cf. ‘you are in-all-respects above…’ (Tae’), ‘you are better than…’ (Batak Toba). The contrast between one human being and many sparrows may be made more explicit, e.g. ‘even if only one, you are…’ (cf. Tae’ 1933), or, .’.. sparrows, many as they may be’ (Balinese).

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.