SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 10:4

10:4a

Carry no purse or bag or sandals: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Carry indicates that Jesus did not want the disciples to take along or bring extra items with them.

purse: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as purse refers to a pouch or bag for carrying or collecting money.

bag: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bag probably refers to a knapsack or traveler’s bag. It could be used for carrying extra food or clothes. See the note on 9:3b. The same word occurs there.

sandals: The word sandals refers here to open shoes that were tied to a person’s foot with straps. The phrase Carry no…sandals indicates that the disciples should not take along an extra pair of sandals. Jesus did not mean that the disciples could not wear any sandals at all. For example:

an extra pair of sandals (New Living Translation (2004))

If people in your area are not familiar with sandals, you may use a general term for footwear or the term for a similar kind of local footwear. For example:

shoes (Good News Translation)
-or-
thongs/flip-flops

10:4b

Do not greet anyone along the road: It was customary in those days for greetings to take a long time. So the command Do not greet anyone along the road probably implies that the disciples should not delay their journey in order to give people lengthy greetings. Jesus was sending the disciples on an urgent mission to prepare people for his coming. He wanted the disciples to complete this mission without wasting time. Some English translations make this explicit. For example:

don’t waste time talking to people on the road (New Century Version)
-or-
don’t stop to greet anyone on the road (Good News Translation)

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