Jesus' human vs. divine nature in modern Burmese translation

There are three different levels of speech in Burmese: common language, religious language (addressing and honoring monks, etc.), and royal language (which is not in active use anymore). Earliest Bible translations used exclusively royal and religious language (in the way Jesus is addressed by others and in the way Jesus is referred to via pronouns), which results in Jesus being divine and not human. Later editions try to make distinctions.

In the Common Language Version (publ. 2005) the human face of Jesus appears in the narrative of the angel’s message to Joseph and what Joseph did in response (Matthew 1:21-25). The angel told Joseph that Mary was going to give birth to a son, not a prince.

Likewise in Luke 2:6-7 the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is told simply using the Common language. Again in the description of the shepherds’ visit to the baby Jesus (Mark 1:21-25), in the story of Jesus’ circumcision (Luke 2:6-2:7), and in the narrative of the child Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem (Luke 2:46-51), the human face of Jesus comes to the forefront.

On the other hand, the child Jesus is clearly depicted as a royal or a divine child in the story of the wise men (Matthew 2:9-12), the story of the flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14), and the return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:20-21).

(Source: Gam Seng Shae, The Bible Translator 2002, p. 202ff.)

See also Mary (mother of Jesus).

Nativity (image)

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complete verse (Luke 2:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:6:

  • Noongar: “They both came to Bethlehem, then the time happened for Mary bearing her baby.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “While they were in Betlehem, the time arrived for Maria to give birth.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then, while they were there in Betlehem the time came for Mariyam to give birth.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And while they were in the village of Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and while they were in Betlehem, it was time for the baby to be born (lit. come-out).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The birth coincided with their being there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 2:6

Exegesis:

egeneto de marks the approach of the climax of a narrative, cf. on 1.8.

en tō einai autous ekei ‘during their being there’; for the construction cf. on 1.8.

eplēsthēsan hai hēmerai tou tekein autēn ‘the days of her giving-birth (i.e. for her to give birth) were fulfilled,’ cf. on 1.23; eplēsthēsan continues the sentence introduced by egeneto.

Translation:

They, i.e. the two of them, which is made explicit where a dual form is obligatory, but also in some other languages, e.g. ‘the two’ (Malay, Toraja-Sa’dan), ‘they two together’ (Thai).

The time came for her to be delivered, see on 1.57.

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.