peace (inner peace)

Click here to view graphically

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated into English as “peace” (or “at ease”) is (back-) translated with a variety of idioms and phrases:

In American Sign Language it is signed with a compound sign consisting of “become” and “silent.” (Source: Yates 2011, p. 52)


“Peace” in American Sign Language (source )

See also peace (absence of strife) and this devotion on YouVersion .

complete verse (Luke 19:42)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 19:42:

  • Noongar: “He said, ‘If you only knew today what you need so you can have peace! But now you can’t see it!” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “He said: ‘How sad for you/Poor you, people of Yerusalem! No kidding how good it would be if you knew what it is that brings you goodness of life now. But all that is hidden from your eyes.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He said, ‘If only you would understand even this day as to what you should do so that you find peace. But you really do not understand.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He said, ‘Oh how I wish that you knew which is the proper thing to do, so that there might be peace in your town, but you do not really know!” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “while saying, ‘Ay Jerusalem, if you (sing.) knew koma now what was necessary so that thereby you (sing.) would be-at-peace! But you (sing.) still are not able-to-distinguish-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And he spoke, saying, ‘How pathetic, you taga Jerusalem! If only you really knew right now how you could truly be reconciled with God! But all this time you have been saying no to him/it, therefore it’s like it’s hidden from you now.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 19:42

Exegesis:

legōn ‘saying,’ here denoting an act to be distinguished from that to which the main verb eklausen refers.

ei egnōs en tē hēmera tautē kai su ta pros eirēnēn ‘if only you too had known, on this day, the things which make for peace,’ with no main clause following, and hence virtually equivalent to a wish which cannot be fulfilled. en tē hēmera tautē refers to the day of Jesus’ glorious entry. kai su may mean ‘even you,’ i.e. ‘you yourself,’ or, ‘you too,’ i.e. as well as the disciples, preferably the latter. ta pros eirēnēn lit. ‘the things that have to do with peace,’ hence, ‘the things that make for peace.’

nun de ekrubē apo ophthalmōn sou ‘but as it is they are hidden from your eyes.’ nun means ‘as things are now,’ ‘as it is,’ and refers to the spiritual state in which Jerusalem is. The clause as a whole may refer to inability or to prohibition, preferably the former. Subject of ekrubē is ta pros eirēnēn.

Translation:

Saying, preferably, ‘and (he) said.’

Would that even today you knew, preferably, ‘if only you too had known today.’ The sentence is often introduced by a particle or phrase with desiderative or supplicatory force, e.g. in Sundanese, Sranan Tongo. You (sing.) refers to the city of Jerusalem. Where idiom is such that one cannot address a city but only the people in it, one may have to shift to ‘you (plur.),’ or more explicitly, ‘your inhabitants.’ To know is used here in the sense of ‘to have understanding of,’ ‘to recognize the nature of.’

The things that make for peace, or, “the way that leads to peace” (New English Bible), “what is needed for peace” (Good News Translation), ‘the things which cause-to-happen peace, or, cause peace to come to you, or, assure peace’ (cf. Trukese, Shona 1966, Zarma). In languages that use distinctive terms for the positive and negative meaning of ‘peace’ (see on 1.79) the choice is difficult here. Some versions, e.g. Bahasa Indonesia RC, Batak Toba use the latter because they view the term as primarily referring to reconciliation, the end of the strife between God and his people; others (e.g. Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese) prefer the positive term (which, of course, may imply the concept of being reconciled to God). The latter is preferable, as a rule.

But now, preferably, ‘but as it is’; or bringing out the implied disappointment more strongly, “but no” (New English Bible), mais hélas (Bible de Jérusalem).

They are hid from your eyes, or, ‘they are kept from your sight,’ ‘you are unable to see/perceive these things.’

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.