SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 6:21

6:21a

Blessed are you: The word Blessed is the same word as in 6:20b. Translate it the same way in both places.

who hunger now: The phrase who hunger now refers to people who are literally hungry. They are hungry because they do not have enough food to eat. Luke focused on physical hunger.

Some Bible scholars also mention that hunger can be interpreted in both a literal way and also in a spiritual sense as longing for God and righteousness. If you have a word that could be interpreted either way, it may be appropriate here.

now: Luke used the word now to emphasize a present situation.

6:21b

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why the “hungry” are blessed. They are blessed because they will be satisfied. For example:

because you will be satisfied (New Century Version)

In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here.

you will be filled: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you will be filled literally means “you will eat your fill.” For example:

you will be satisfied (New International Version)

The phrase you will be filled is passive. It may be natural in your language to translate it with an active expression. For example:

You will have plenty to eat! (Contemporary English Version)

As with hunger, some Bible scholars mention that filled can be interpreted in both a literal way and also in a spiritual sense, as being satisfied by God. If you have a word that could be interpreted either way, it may be appropriate here.

will be: The Greek verb tense refers to future time. It is in direct contrast with the present situation (emphasized by “now”).

General Comment on 6:21a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of 6:21a–b. For example:

21aYou who are now hungry, 21bone day you will be satisfied, 21a⌊so⌋ you are blessed.

6:21c

Blessed are you: Translate this phrase the same way you did in 6:20b.

you who weep now: The phrase you who weep now implies sadness or sorrow. Another way to translate this is:

you people who are crying (Contemporary English Version)

now: As in 6:21a, Luke used the word now to emphasize a present situation.

6:21d

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why those who weep are blessed. They are blessed because they will laugh. For example:

because you will laugh with joy (New Century Version)

In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:

…you will laugh! (Good News Translation)

you will laugh: The word laugh here refers to laughing with joy. Being a part of God’s kingdom gives a person good reasons to laugh and rejoice. Some other ways to translate this are:

you will laugh with/from joy
-or-
you will rejoice

will: The Greek verb tense refers to future time. It is in direct contrast with the present situation (emphasized by “now”).

General Comment on 6:21c–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of 6:21c–d. For example:

21cYou who weep now 21done day you will laugh, 21c⌊so⌋ you are blessed.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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