vineyard

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “vineyard” in English is translated in Noongar as boodjer-djildjiyang, lit. “land for fruit.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

complete verse (Luke 20:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 20:15:

  • Noongar: “So they threw him out of the orchard and killed him.’ Jesus asked, ‘Now, what will the boss of the orchard do to these people?” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “From there, they pulled him outside the field/garden and they killed him. ‘So, what will the owner of the field do to the people who took-care-of his field/garden?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then they caught/grabbed him and pushed him outside the fence of the vineyard and killed him. Na,’ said Isa, ‘what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Jesus said again, ‘And since that’s what those who are left in charge of the field did, what is the owner going to do to them?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then they drove-him-out of the grape-area and killed him.’ Then Jesus said, ‘What perhaps will the farm owner do to those tenant-farmers?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, they rushed at him, dragged him outside that ubas plantation and then killed him. Well, what will then be done to them by that plant-owner?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 20:15

Exegesis:

ti oun poiēsei autois ho kurios tou ampelōnos ‘what then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?’ This question interrupts the parable since it is addressed to the listeners. No answer from them is expected or given and the question serves to enliven the parable and focus attention on its main point. It is in the future tense as if Jesus and the listeners witnesses of the events.

Translation:

Cast him out … and killed him: the victim is cast or pushed out of the vineyard while still alive, and then killed outside.

What then will the owner … do? The force of this question may have to be brought out by saying, ‘what then do you expect the owner … will do…?,’ or as a statement, ‘you all, or, we (inclus.) all, know what the owner … will do, of course….’ Then, or, ‘therefore,’ ‘so,’ indicates that the question draws the inference from the parable, and as such marks its end. If this is still felt to be too abrupt a transition, one may add, “Jesus asked” (Good News Translation), or, ‘thereupon Jesus said.’

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.