idle talk, nonsense

The Greek that is translated into English as “nonsense” or “idle tale” is translated as “empty talk” (Uab Meto), “wind talk” (Indonesian), “carried-around story” (Ekari), “purposeless talking” (Kele), “words that-frighten without-reason” (Toraja-Sa’dan), or “talk without foundation” (Pohnpeian, Chuukese) (source for all above: Reiling / Swellengrebel), or “telling a fairy tale” (Mairasi) (source: Enggavoter 2004).

complete verse (Luke 24:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 24:11:

  • Noongar: “But in the eyes of the disciples, everything the women said was only silly talking, and they did not see the truth.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “But those disciples did not believe their words, they thought it was just words that they made up.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But the apostles did not believe what the women told for they said it was just idle-talk.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, the apostles of Jesus, they thought it wasn’t true and they didn’t believe the news of these women.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But the apostles thought that what the women said was just foolish-chatter, so they didn’t believe (it/them).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But the disciples thought-mistakenly that what those women were telling was just what-they -had-made-up. That’s why they didn’t acknowledge it as true.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 24:11

Exegesis:

kai ephanēsan … hōsei lēros ta rēmata tauta ‘and these words appeared … as nonsense.’ Notwithstanding ta rēmata tauta being neuter plural ephanēsan is in the plural. phainomai, cf. on 9.8.

lēros ‘nonsense,’ ‘idle talk.’

enōpion autōn ‘in their sight,’ equivalent to dative autois going with ephanēsan.

ēpistoun autais ‘they did not believe them,’ denoting the situation that existed as a result of what the preceding clause related.

apisteō (also v. 41) ‘to disbelieve,’ here used in a non-religious sense, in v. 41 with the connotation of being unable to believe.

Translation:

These words seemed to them, or, specifying the participants, “the apostles thought that what the women said was” (Good News Translation).

An idle tale. Some idioms used are, ‘empty talk’ (Zürcher Bibel, Uab Meto), ‘wind talk’ (Bahasa Indonesia), ‘carried-around story’ (Ekari), ‘purposeless talking’ (Kele), ‘words that-frighten without-reason’ (Toraja-Sa’dan), ‘talk without foundation’ (Pohnpeian, Trukese).

Believe them, or, ‘their words’; cf. on 1.20.

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.