send away empty-handed

The Greek that is typically translated as “send (him) away empty-handed” in English is translated in Punu with the existing idiom “send (him) away holding his hands.” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 54)

In Western Highland Chatino it is translated as “(they) didn’t give him even one grape.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Mark 12:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 12:3:

  • Uma: “But the ones taking care of the field caught his slave, they beat him and sent him away empty-handed [lit., dry].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But the caretakers seized/arrested him and beat him. They sent him home without anything.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But when his servant arrived, those whom he had put in charge grabbed him and beat him and sent him home with nothing.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But when he arrived, the caretakers whipped him and sent-him-home completely empty-handed (lit. shaved).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But when those ones left in charge saw him, they ganged up to ill-treat that slave who had been sent, and sent him back without anything.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 12:3

Exegesis:

edeiran (12.5; 13.9) ‘they beat,’ ‘they flogged,’ ‘they whipped.’

kenon (only here in Mark) ‘empty,’ ‘empty-handed.’

Translation:

Empty-handed may be translated in some languages simply as ‘without anything.’ In one instance it is idiomatically rendered as ‘holding his own hands,’ i.e. without anything in them.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .