complete verse (Mark 13:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 13:29:

  • Uma: “So also when you see those previously-mentioned happenings, you know that what I previously said is indeed about to happen.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Likewise also, when you see already happen what I said, you know that my return is truly very close.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In the same way also, when you see all these things being fulfilled, you will know that I am about to return.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And likewise also when you see all these-things happening that I have-been-telling you, you will know that my coming is near.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It’s like that indeed, that when you observe these things happen, you know that the time of my returning is near, and is now beginning.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 13:29

Exegesis:

hotan idēte tauta ginomena ‘when you see things happening’: in the context ‘these things’ refers primarily to the events described in vv. 24-27, but would include also those described in vv. 14-23.

ginōskete ‘you are to know’: probably here an imperative form (in v. 28 the identical form is clearly indicative).

eggus estin ‘it is near’: the majority of English translations have ‘he is near,’ with obvious reference to ‘the Son of man’ in v. 26 (Le Nouveau Testament. Version Synodale actually translates le Fils de l’homme est proche). Others, for example Lagrange, regard the saying as “mysterious and veiled,” in the style of v. 14, and they believe that one should not attempt to supply any definite subject, e.g. que c’est proche (cf. O Novo Testamento de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. Revisdo Autorizada que est próximo; Luther has es ‘it’; Translator’s New Testament ‘it is near’).

epi thurais ‘at the door’: this figure of speech denotes immediate nearness.

Translation:

Though in English the present tense forms see and know are applicable to a future condition, in many languages this type of condition must have special tense forms applicable to such a future event, ‘when you will see…, then you will know….’ This future usage also requires the use of the future in the dependent clause, e.g. ‘that he will be near.’

At the very gates may be quite meaningless in some languages, for it has no possible relationship to a temporal contract. In fact, its use may completely distort the meaning of the passage in such a way as to cause people to think of the Son of man as standing at the gate of the corral or by the roadside. On the other hand, if the subject of ‘is near’ refers to a general event, then the meaning is even more difficult, for ‘happenings’ cannot be spoken of as being ‘at the very gates,’ unless one is to assume that all these apocalyptic happenings are to take place at the gates. Accordingly, in languages in which the metaphor ‘at the very gates’ is going to be inevitably misunderstood, one may employ ‘is come very near indeed’ (Tabasco Chontal).

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 .