cause to stumble, offend

“The word ‘offend’ as a translation of the Greek skandalizó seems to cause all sorts of trouble for translators. The difficulty is that the meaning of this word covers such a wide area. The basic meaning of the Greek is ‘to cause to stumble by putting some impediment in the way.’ The present central meaning of English ‘offend’ is often quite different. In some languages there is no metaphorical value in a translation ‘to cause someone to stumble.’ If the language permits no such metaphor, the translator should not attempt to force it. In Highland Totonac, the metaphor ‘to show the wrong road to’ is used in a manner almost exactly parallel to the Greek idiom.” (Source: Nida 1947)

In San Blas Kuna the translation is “spoil the heart” (source: Claudio and Marvel Iglesias in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 85ff.).

See also fall away, stumble.

complete verse (Luke 7:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 7:23:

  • Noongar: “God will bless people who do not leave my truth.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Fortunate are the people whose hearts are not uncertain/hesitant towards Me.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And happy is who does not doubt about me.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Far better off is the person who does not doubt that I am the one sent by God.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Tell him also that fortunate is the person who has no doubts about me.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The person can really be very happy whose mind isn’t of two minds about me.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 7:23

Exegesis:

makarios estin hos ean mē skandalisthē en emoi ‘blessed is he who does not take offence at me.’ For makarios cf. on 1.45. hos ean with following subjunctive introduces a relative clause which is virtually the protasis of a conditional clause.

skandalizō (also 17.2) here in the passive and construed with en with dative ‘to be repelled,’ ‘to take offence.’ It refers to him who misunderstands Jesus’ acts referred to in v. 22 and fails to recognize him for what he is and hence does not believe in him.

Translation:

Blessed, or, ‘happy,’ see 1.45.

He who …, or, ‘any one who…,’ ‘a person/man, if he….’

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.