complete verse (Luke 16:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 16:31:

  • Noongar: “But Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then they will not listen, not if one man came back from the dead.”” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘Abraham said: ‘If they do not believe the words of the prophet Musa and the other prophets, they would still not believe even if there really were a dead person living again.”” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But Ibrahim said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to/obey the writings of Musa and the other prophets, they will not be convinced even if a person who was dead and comes to life again would go and tell them.”” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Abraham answered, ‘If they won’t obey the writings of Moses and of the prophets long ago, they will not obey even if there is someone who goes to them who is raised from the dead.”” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘But then Abraham said, ‘If they don’t believe what Moses and the prophets wrote, they will emphatically not be convinced to believe even if someone lives again from the dead.”” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Abraham again answered him, saying, ‘If they really don’t acknowledge as true the things which were written by Moises and also the prophets, of course they indeed won’t be made to believe by even one who is dead and who came alive again.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

prophet

Eugene Nida wrote the following about the translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are typically translated with “prophet” in English:

“The tendency in many translations is to use ‘to foretell the future’ for ‘prophesy,’ and ‘one who foretells the future’ for ‘prophet.’ This is not always a recommended usage, particularly if such expressions denote certain special native practices of spirit contact and control. It is true, of course, that prophets of the Bible did foretell the future, but this was not always their principal function. One essential significance of the Greek word prophētēs is ‘one who speaks forth,’ principally, of course, as a forth-teller of the Divine will. A translation such as ‘spokesman for God’ may often be employed profitably.” (1947, p. 234f.)

Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages (click or tap for details):

  • San Blas Kuna: “one who speaks the voice of God”
  • Central Pame and Vai: “interpreter for God”
  • Kaqchikel, Navajo (Dinė), Yaka: “one who speaks for God”
  • Northern Grebo: “God’s town crier” (see more about this below)
  • Sapo: “God’s sent-word person”
  • Shipibo-Conibo, Ngäbere: “one who speaks God’s word”
  • Copainalá Zoque: “one who speaks-opens” (a compound meaning “one who discloses or reveals”)
  • Sierra Totonac: “one who causes them to know” (in the sense of “revealer”)
  • Batak Toba: “foreteller” (this and all the above acc. to Nida 1961, p. 7)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “one who is inspired of God” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Alekano: “the true man who descended from heaven” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation June 1986, p. 36ff.)
  • Aguaruna: “teller of God’s word” (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125)
  • Ekari: “person who speaks under divine impulse”
  • Mandarin Chinese: 先知 xiānzhī — “one who foreknows” (or the 1946/1970 translation by Lü Zhenzhong: 神言人 shényánrén — “divine-word-man”)
  • Uab Meto: “holy spokesman” (source for this and two above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Kouya: Lagɔɔ gbʋgbanyɔ — “the one who seeks God’s affairs” (source: Saunders, p. 269)
  • Kafa: “decide for God only” (source: Loren Bliese)
  • Martu Wangka: “sit true to God’s talk” (source: Carl Gross)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “word passer” (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22)
  • Obolo: ebi nriran: “one with power of divine revelation” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Mairasi: nonondoai nyan: “message proclaimer” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Highland Totonac: “speaker on God’s behalf”
  • Central Tarahumara: “God’s preacher” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Coatlán Mixe: “God’s word-thrower”
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “one who talks as God’s representative”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “speaker for God” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Mezquital Otomi / Paasaal: “God’s messenger” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff. and Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
  • Noongar: Warda Marridjiny or “News Traveling” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Kutu: mtula ndagu or “one who gives the prediction of the past and the future” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ebira: ọnịsẹ, a neologism that combines the prefix ọn for “a person” with ịsẹ for “prediction” (source: Scholz /Scholz 2015, p. 49)
  • French 1985 translation by Chouraqui: inspiré or “inspired one” (“someone in whom God has breathed [Latin: in + spiro]) (source: Watson 2023, p. 45)

In Ixcatlán Mazatec a term is used that specifically includes women. (Source: Robert Bascom)

About the translation into Northern Grebo:

“In some instances these spiritual terms result from adaptations reflecting the native life and culture. Among the Northern Grebo people of Liberia, a missionary wanted some adequate term for ‘prophet,’ and she was fully aware that the native word for ‘soothsayer’ or ‘diviner’ was no equivalent for the Biblical prophet who spoke forth for God. Of course, much of what the prophets said referred to the future, and though this was an essential part of much of their ministry, it was by no means all. The right word for the Gbeapo people would have to include something which would not only mean the foretelling of important events but the proclamation of truth as God’s representative among the people. At last the right word came; it was ‘God’s town-crier.’ Every morning and evening the official representative of the chief goes through the village crying out the news, delivering the orders of the chief, and announcing important coming events. ‘God’s town-crier’ would be the official representative of God, announcing to the people God’s doings, His commands, and His pronouncements for their salvation and well-being. For the Northern Grebo people the prophet is no weird person from forgotten times; he is as real as the human, moving message of the plowman Amos, who became God’s town-crier to a calloused people.” (source: Nida 1952, p. 20)

In American Sign Language it is a person who sees into the future:


“Prophet” in American Sign Language (source )

In British Sign Language it is is translated with a sign that depicts a message coming from God to a person (the upright finger) and then being passed on to others. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Prophet” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

See also prophesy and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: How to Recognize a Biblical Prophet .

See also seer.

Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language in accordance with the depiction of Moses in the famous statue by Michelangelo (see here ). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Moses” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here ).

In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:


“Moses” in French Sign Language (source )

The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).


“Moses” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

In Estonian Sign Language Moses is depicted with a big beard. (Source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff. )


“Moses” in Estonian Sign Language, source: Glossary of the EKNK Toompea kogudus

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Moses .

Translation commentary on Luke 16:31

Exegesis:

eipen de autō ‘but he (i.e. Abraham) said to him,’ change of subject.

oud’ ean tis ek nekrōn anastē peisthēsontai ‘not even if someone rises from the dead, will they be convinced.’ anistamai occurs only here and 24.46 in Luke together with ek nekrōn and is synonymous with egeiromai ek nekrōn, cf. 9.7.

peithō ‘to persuade,’ ‘to convince.’

Translation:

Neither will they be convinced if some one …, or, in an active construction, ‘then no one will convince them, even if he (or, even a person who)…,’ ‘even some one who … will not gain them over so-that they believe’ (Sranan Tongo). Be convinced, or, “pay heed” (New English Bible); or, linking-up with v. 28, ‘be-warned’ (Bahasa Indonesia KB), ‘accept warning’ (Malay), ‘accept (it)’ (Toraja-Sa’dan).

Rise from the dead, see on 9.7f.

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 16:31

16:31a

Then Abraham said to him: In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then in order to introduce what happened next. Several other versions (Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004)) translate it as “But” in order to introduce a contrast between what the rich man asked and what Abraham replied. Several other versions (English Standard Version, NET Bible, New International Version) do not translate this conjunction explicitly. This word introduces Abraham’s reply. This reply disagrees with what the rich man had just said. Indicate that in a natural way in your language.

Abraham said: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Abraham said is literally “he said.” In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit who was speaking. For example:

But Abraham said to him (New Century Version)

If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets: The clause If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets expresses a condition that Abraham and the rich man both knew to be true. The brothers were paying no attention to the warnings of Moses and the prophets. In some languages it may be necessary to make this clear. For example:

Since they are not listening to Moses and the Prophets…

16:31b

they will not be persuaded: The clause they will not be persuaded is passive. It also contains implied information. The implied information is:

they will not be convinced/persuaded ⌊that they need to repent

In some languages it may be more natural to use an active verb. For example:

they will not believe/realize ⌊that they must repent

In some languages you may need to reorder the clauses in this verb and indicate who would not convince them. See the General Comment on 16:31b–c below for suggestions.

16:31c

even if someone rises from the dead: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as even if introduces an event that would be even more amazing than a messenger from the dead visiting the brothers. Abraham was saying that even if a dead person came back to life again, the brothers would still not believe his message and repent.

General Comment on 16:31b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the parts of 16:31b–c. For example:

31ceven someone rising from the dead 31bwill not convince them ⌊to repent
-or-

31ca person who dies and then lives again 31bwill not be enough to persuade them

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