complete verse (Luke 21:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:20:

  • Noongar: “‘When you see soldiers surrounding Jerusalem, then you will know this place will soon be destroyed.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘When you see this town of Yerusalem surrounded by the enemy soldiers, you will know that it will not be much longer [until] Yerusalem is destroyed.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘When you see the town Awrusalam surrounded by soldiers, you will know that soon it’s disaster is coming.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘And when you see this town of Jerusalem surrounded by enemy soldiers, you will know then that it will soon be destroyed.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus also said, ‘When you see that many soldiers are surrounding Jerusalem, this is how-you -will-know that its destruction is near.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Now when you observe that Jerusalem is being beseiged by soldiers, be sure that its destruction is near.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Translation commentary on Luke 21:20

Exegesis:

hotan de idēte kukloumenēn hupo stratopedōn Ierousalēm ‘but when you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies.’

kukloō ‘to surround,’ ‘to encircle.’ Note the present tense: the encircling is not yet completed, otherwise some of the following injunctions would be pointless.

stratopedon ‘army camp,’ hence ‘army,’ ‘army corps,’ ‘legion.’

tote gnōte ‘then you must know,’ referring to a future time.

hoti ēggiken hē erēmōsis autēs ‘that the time of her devastation has drawn near.’ For ēggiken cf. on v. 8.

erēmōsis ‘devastation,’ ‘desolation.’

Translation:

Jerusalem surrounded by armies, or, ‘that armies are engaged in surrounding J., or, on the point of surrounding J.’ Armies, or, ‘(troops of) soldiers’; if the word for ‘to surround’ does not clearly express the hostile intention, one may have to say ‘enemy armies.’

Then know, i.e. “then you may be sure” (New English Bible), ‘you must realize then’ (cf. Bible de Jérusalem).

That its desolation has come near, or, ‘that the time for it to fall desolate has come near’ (Marathi), ‘that the hour has come for it to be destroyed’ (Tzeltal), ‘that it is about to be destroyed (cf. Ekari, Shona 1963), or, will soon perish/fall/go-to-ruin,’ ‘that far-off not, they will destroy it’ (Kituba).

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.