generation

The Greek that is translated into English as “(this) generation” is translated as “the people now” into Chol, “those who are in space now” into Tzeltal or “you people” into Tlahuitoltepec Mixe. (Source: Bratcher / Nida; Mixe: Robert Bascom)

Generic terms for the Greek that is translated as “generation” include “(people of one) layer” (Ekari, Toraja-Sa’dan, Batak Toba), or “one storey of growing” (Highland Totonac, using a term also denoting a storey or floor of a building). (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)

See also generations and all generations.

truly truly - I tell you

The Greek that is often translated in English as “truly, truly, I tell you” or similar is translated in the Russian BTI translation (publ. 2015) as Поверьте Мне (Pover’te Mne) or “trust me.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Amen.

complete verse (Matthew 24:34)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 24:34:

  • Uma: “Indeed I say to you, all that will certainly happen before all the people who are alive at this time die.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I truly tell you,’ said Isa, ‘not all of the people who live now will have died, when what I said here will come.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Remember what I am saying to you; when you see these things fulfilled, you will not all die before all these things are fulfilled.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This that I tell you is true that some of the people who are here now will be still living when all that I have said is fulfilled.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This really is the truth, that this nation of people really won’t be wiped out before all this is fulfilled.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning these signs I tell you about, know that these will happen before the people who are now alive have died.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff.), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

Translation commentary on Matthew 24:34

Truly, I say to you (Good News Translation “Remember”): see discussion at 5.18.

This generation will not pass away is transformed into a positive statement by several translations: “all these events will happen within the lifetime of this generation” (Barclay), “the present generation will live to see it all” (New English Bible), and “this generation will experience all these things” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Differences of opinion exist with regard to the meaning of (1) this generation and (2) all these things take place. New International Version translates this generation literally but follows with a footnote, “Or race.” And one New Testament scholar believes that “Matthew means not just the first generation after Jesus but all the generations of Judaism that reject him.” However, there is no linguistic evidence to substantiate either of these conclusions, and they must be brushed aside as attempts to avoid the obvious meaning. In its original setting the reference was solely to Jesus’ own contemporaries, though in the context of Matthew’s Gospel it seems to have been expanded to include as well the generation of his readers. Good News Translation, “the people now living,” represents a widely accepted interpretation of this generation. Will not pass away then means “these people will not die.”

All these things take place is accompanied by a footnote in New Jerusalem Bible: “This statement refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and not to the end of the world.” Other scholars believe that the reference is to the final events of history, including the coming of the Son of Man. No final decision is possible, though the weight of evidence supports the judgment expressed in New Jerusalem Bible; if translations must be specific, this is the best alternative, but they should leave it general if at all possible.

Note that Good News Translation has reversed the order of the verse, which does change the focus of the verse somewhat. However, translators should follow whichever order seems most natural in their language.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .