The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “anger” in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied).”
Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 15:28:
Noongar: “‘The first brother became very angry and he would not go inside the house. So his father came outside and begged him to go into the house.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “‘That first-born child was angry, he refused to enter into the house. His father went to encourage him to enter.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But he was angry and he did not want to go inside. His father came out and begged him to come inside.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then that older brother was very disgusted and he would not go up into the house. And then his father came down out of the house, and spoke softly to him, saying, ‘Come on into the house, son.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘Then the older-sibling was angry and he refused to enter. So their father came-out to plead-with-him in inviting him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When that older brother heard, he got angry. He no longer continued on to the house. Without anything further, his father met him to placate him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
ōrgisthē de kai ouk ēthelen eiselthein ‘but he became angry and would not go in,’ with sudden change of subject. For orgizomai cf. on 14.21. ouk ēthelen (imperfect tense) denotes a lasting unwillingness, caused by his anger, not a momentary refusal to go into the house.
exelthōn parekalei auton ‘came out and pleaded with him.’ For parakaleō cf. on 3.18. The imperfect tense suggests duration.
Translation:
He was (or, became) angry. The pronoun may have to be specified, e.g. ‘the elder son/brother.’
Entreated him, or, ‘begged him,’ ‘tried-to-persuade/coaxed him’ (some Indonesian languages), ‘asked him urgently’ (Tae’), ‘didn’t stop begging him’ (Sranan Tongo). One may have to make explicit the aim, e.g. “begged him to come in” (Good News Translation), or the implied direct discourse, e.g. ‘said to him, “Please, please, come in (or, do not stay/remain outside)” .’
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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