reveal

The Greek that is translated as “reveal” in English is translated in Maan with the expression “take the leaf from it.” (Source: Don Slager)

complete verse (Luke 12:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 12:2:

  • Noongar: “All things covered will be seen, and everything secret will be known.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “But all their behavior that is hidden will definitely become visible. And all that is in their hearts will definitely be exposed.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Nothing is covered up which does not finally come out, nothing is hidden which won’t finally be known.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “but every activity of people which is covered up will be known just the same, and anything which is hidden will be revealed just the same.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because everything that is hidden and not known now, it will be shown and known in the future.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because it’s true, there’s nothing hidden which won’t be discovered, and there’s nothing in the mind/inner-being which won’t be exposed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 12:2

Exegesis:

ouden de sugkekalummenon estin ‘but nothing is covered up.’ de is transitional, and the clause explains the warning of v. 1.

sugkaluptō ‘to veil completely,’ ‘to cover up.’

ho ouk apokaluphthēsetai ‘that is not going to be uncovered.’ For apokaluptō cf. on 2.35. The verse recalls 8.17 but has a different point because of the preceding verse: hypocrisy is useless.

kai krupton ho ou gnōsthēsetai ‘and (nothing is) secret that is not going to be known.’ kruptos (cf. on 8.17) is adjective here.

Translation:

For this verse cf. 8.17; Sranan Tongo renders it, ‘you can’t cover anything so that it doesn’t come out; you can’t hide anything so that people don’t know it.’

Revealed, or, ‘uncovered,’ ‘brought to light,’ ‘made (publicly) known.’

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 12:2

12:2–3

Many scholars think that one or both of these verses were well-known proverbs that Jesus used more than once in order to emphasize different truths. Here Jesus used the same proverbs he used in Matthew 10:26–27, but he was teaching a different lesson.

12:2a

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed: This proverb gives a reason for Jesus’ warning in 12:1 that the disciples should not be hypocrites like the Pharisees. In some languages it may be necessary to make this connection explicit. For example:

⌊don’t become/be like them because⌋… (Translator’s Reference Translation)

In this context, the proverb means that God will reveal the truth about hypocrites such as the Pharisees. The Pharisees were trying to hide their real motives, but God will one day cause everyone to know what they were really thinking.

Notice that this proverb contains two negatives: nothing and not. In some languages it is more natural to translate without using negatives. For example:

Everything that is hidden will be found out (Contemporary English Version)

concealed…disclosed: In Greek, the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as concealed and disclosed are both passive forms. Some ways to translate these words are:

• As passive forms. For example:

Whatever is covered up will be uncovered (Good News Translation)

• As active forms. Since this verse was probably a proverb, you should try to use a general subject for concealed. You should not refer specifically to the Pharisees. The implied subject of disclosed is God. For example:

⌊No one⌋ can hide anything that ⌊God⌋ will not reveal
-or-

⌊God⌋ will make known whatever ⌊anyone⌋ tries to conceal

Translate these words in a way that is most natural in your language.

12:2b

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and introduces a statement that has the same meaning as the previous verse part. Some English versions introduce 12:2b with “or.” Others do not use a conjunction. Consider how your language would connect two similar statements such as 12:2a and 12:2b. See the General Comment on 12:2a–b at the end of 12:2b for ways to translate similar statements.

nothing hidden that will not be made known: This part of the verse repeats the meaning of the previous verse part, using similar words. This is called parallelism and was a common pattern in Jewish proverbs.

In Greek, the word “nothing” is not repeated in the second part of this statement. It has been left implied. In some languages it will be necessary to supply the full clause, as the Berean Standard Bible does by repeating nothing. For example:

⌊there is nothing⌋ hidden that will not be made known

As in the previous verse part, the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hidden and be made known are passive forms. In some languages it may be more natural to translate them with active forms. For example:

⌊God⌋ will make known anything that ⌊a person⌋ hides.

General Comment on 12:2a–b

The parallel statements in 12:2a and 12:2b express the same meaning. No contrast is intended. In some languages it may not be possible to repeat two statements with similar meanings without sounding redundant or without implying a contrast. Two ways to avoid these problems are:

• Use a different general subject in 12:2b. For example:

2aEverything that ⌊people⌋ cover up ⌊God⌋ will uncover.

2b
You
(plur) cannot keep anything hidden forever.

• Reorder or combine the parts with similar meaning. For example:

Everything that is now hidden or unknown will be revealed or made known.
-or-
If people have any secret sins or hidden motives, God will cause them all to be known.

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