spices

The Greek that is translated as spices in English is translated in Tabasco Chontal as “medicine/spices which pertained to rubbing on the body” and in Seri as “a substance that smelled like perfume. It was for pouring on the dead, one to keep his body from stinking.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Luke 24:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 24:1:

  • Noongar: “When the sun rose on the first day, the women went to the tomb, carrying the sweet-smelling oil which they prepared.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Very early Sunday morning, those women went to the grave carrying the fragrant stuff that they had already prepared.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Very early on Sunday those women went to the grave carrying the ointments they had prepared.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “When the day of rest was over and it was early morning on the day of Sunday, these women went again to the place where Jesus was buried and they brought with them the fragrant things to rub on that they had prepared.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When it was Sunday, those women went early to the place where Jesus was-buried taking-along perfume which they had prepared.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When it was very early morning on Sunday, those women then set out to go to the grave of Jesus. They were taking with them the perfume which they had prepared.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 24:1

Exegesis:

23.56b may be taken as a part of the sentence of v. 56a (cf. New English Bible), or as an independent clause (cf. e.g. Revised Standard Version), or as one sentence with 24.1 (cf. e.g. Translator’s New Testament). The third alternative is preferable.

to men sabbaton ‘during the sabbath,’ accusative of time.

hēsuchasan ‘they rested,’ cf. on 14.4.

kata tēn entolēn ‘according to the commandment,’ scil. of the Law of Moses.

(24.1) tē de mia tōn sabbatōn ‘but on the first day of the week.’

orthrou batheōs ‘at early dawn,’ genitive of time.

orthros ‘dawn,’ ‘early morning.’

bathus ‘deep,’ here in a figurative sense ‘early.’

epi to mnēma ēlthon ‘they went to the tomb.’

pherousai ha hētoimasan arōmata ‘bringing (with them) the spices they had prepared.’ The word order (relative clause before the antecedent) does not influence the meaning.

Translation:

(23.56b) They rested. The verb may have to be expressed by ‘not to work’; an idiomatic rendering found in Tzeltal is, ‘to let the heart live.’

According to the commandment, or, “in obedience to the commandment” (An American Translation, New English Bible), “as the Law commanded” (Good News Translation), ‘as the law says’ (Sranan Tongo). For the noun see on 1.6.

(24.1) On the first day of the week. Where a literal rendering of the phrase would present difficulties one may shift to ‘on the next day,’ ‘on the day after (the sabbath).’

At early dawn, or, ‘very early.’ Toraja-Sa’dan uses an idiomatic phrase, lit. ‘night not yet (probably elliptical for, not yet ended).’

Taking, i.e. ‘taking/carrying with them.’

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.