complete verse (Luke 19:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 19:25:

  • Noongar: “But they said, ‘Your Majesty, he has ten coins already, doesn’t he?'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘Those whom he commanded were confused, they said: ‘Why like that, King? Because he already has ten pieces!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘But, Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten gold-coins.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they said, ‘He already has money, because the money that you caused him to hold was increased ten times.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “”Yes, Sir,’ they said, ‘but emphatically ten is what he already has.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘Oh expl.,’ they said,, ‘Master, why increase his even more when he already has a thousand?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 19:25

Exegesis:

kai eipan autō ‘and they said to him.’ Subject of eipan are the attendants, or the audience of Jesus, preferable the former.

kurie, echei deka mnas ‘master, he (already) has ten minas.’ echei is emphatic. For the textual problems cf. GOOD NEWS BIBLE and commentaries.

Translation:

He has ten pounds expresses the speakers’ astonishment at the king’s unexpected, and in their eyes unfair decision, cf. “he has ten pounds” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation), “he has ten already” (New English Bible, similarly in many other versions).

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.