cheek

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “cheek” in English is translated in Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl as “face” since there is no specific word in that language for “cheek.”

clothes

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated with “clothes” or similar in English is translated in Enlhet as “crawling-in-stuff” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ) and in Noongar as bwoka or “Kangaroo skin” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being dis cussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (Luke 6:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 6:29:

  • Noongar: “If people hit you on one cheek, you must say to them, they can hit your other cheek also. If people take your coat, you must say to them, they can also take your other coat.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “If there is a person who slaps our cheeks on one side, don’t get revenge/pay back. Just also offer the other cheek to him. If there is someone who grabs/takes-away our sarong, just also give him our shirt.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If someone slaps your face on one side turn the other side also to him and let him slap it. If someone takes your blouse let him even if he takes your undershirt as well.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is a person who slaps your cheek, you tell him that it can be that he also slap the other. If there is a person who will take away your shirt, tell him that it can be that he also takes your undershirt.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If someone slaps one of your (sing.) cheeks, cause-to-be-slapped also the other and if someone takes your (sing.) outer garment (lit. layer of your clothes), just (lit. even-if you (sing.)) let-him-be so he will also take your (sing.) shirt.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Supposing someone slaps you on your right cheek, just leave him alone to slap the other side also. Well if your cloak is snatched, give your shirt also.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 6:29

Exegesis:

tō tuptonti se epi tēn siagona pareche kai tēn allēn ‘to him who strikes you on the cheek, present the other also.’ Note that vv. 29f are in the singular as contrasted with what precedes and what follows. tō tuptonti is dative of advantage with pareche.

tuptō ‘to strike,’ ‘to beat,’ in Luke always literally.

siagōn (only here and Mt. 5.39 in the N.T.) ‘jawbone,’ hence ‘cheek.’

parechō ‘to give,’ ‘to present,’ ‘to grant,’ ‘to bring about.’

kai apo tou airontos sou to himation ‘and from him who takes your upper-garment.’ The phrase goes with the main verb mē kōlusēs ‘do not keep back.’ kai introduces the clause as parallel to the preceding one. sou is possessive genitive with to himation. The latter refers here to the “upper and more valuable garment”.

kai ton chitōna mē kolusēs ‘do not keep back your undergarment as well.’ For chitōn cf. on 3.11. kai ‘likewise,’ ‘as well.’

kōluō ‘to hinder,’ ‘to prevent,’ ‘to refuse.’ Here with apo ‘to keep back from.’

Translation:

The construction to him who strikes…, offer … may better be rendered, ‘when someone strikes…, offer him’; similarly the constructions in vv. 29b, 30.

Who strikes you on the cheek, or, ‘on one cheek’ (Translator’s New Testament, Balinese), ‘on the cheek at one side’ (some Indonesian languages); or, where the use of a specific verb is more idiomatic, ‘who slaps-on-the-face/cheek you at one side.’ Cheek. In Sranan Tongo the term literally means ‘side-of-face,’ corresponding with ‘the other side’ in the next clause.

Offer the other, or, ‘offer (him) the other cheek, or, (the cheek at) the other side.’ Other possible renderings of the verb are, ‘turn (to him)’ (An American Translation, Nieuwe Vertaling, Sranan Tongo, Trukese), ‘make (to be) in front of him’ (Marathi), “let him hit” (Good News Translation).

Also means ‘in addition (to it),’ ‘to be treated similarly.’

Cloak and coat, referring to an outer and an inner garment. To render cloak some versions have chosen a term referring to a non-indigenous piece of dress because it resembled the type of garment referred to in the original. This is advisable only, if the dress in question has been commonly accepted in the receptor culture. The coat, or, ‘shirt’ (for which cf. also on 3.11) is mentioned here as example of the necessities of life; therefore one should avoid the use of a term referring to a garment that is considered a luxury in the receptor culture.

Do not withhold, or, ‘do not refuse,’ ‘do not oppose his taking’ (Marathi); or, positively stated, “let him have” (New English Bible, Good News Translation) ‘allow him to take’ (Tae’).

As well, or, ‘in addition to it.’

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.