human head hair

The Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew that is translated as “hair” in English is translated in Tzeltal as stsotsil sjol (Tzeltal de Oxchuc y Tenejapa) / stsotsel sjol (Tzeltal Bachajón): “blanket for the head.” (Source: Slocum / Watkins 1988, p. 35)

See also hair (body hair) and hairy (like Esau).

complete verse (Luke 21:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:18:

  • Noongar: “But not one hair of your heads will be lost.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “But really, nothing will happen to you. Not even one piece of your hair will be lost.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But nothing will be lost not even one of your hairs.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And even though they kill you, they will not be able to harm you because your souls are kept safe by God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But be-reassured, because God will take-care of you so that even a single one of your hairs will not be lost.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But it’s true, not even one strand of your hair will be permanently-lost if it hasn’t been determined by God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Luke 21:18

Exegesis:

thrix ek tēs kephalēs humōn ou mē apolētai ‘not a hair of your head will perish,’ proverbial saying promising that they will be invulnerable. This may be understood in a spiritual sense, i.e. that their souls will be absolutely safe, or in the sense that though some will be killed, as a whole or as a community the disciples will be safe (cf. Grundmann). The latter is preferable. ek tēs kephalēs stands for the simple partitive genitive used in 7.38 and 12.7. For ou mē cf. on 1.15.

Translation:

Not a hair of your head will perish (or, ‘be harmed/lost’), or trying better to bring out the emphasis, ‘you will not lose a single one of your hairs-of-the-head’ (Javanese); or again, shifting from negative to positive, and focussing on the person, ‘you will be entirely safe, even to (a single) one of the hairs of your head.’ For hair of one’s head cf. also on 7.38.

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 21:18

21:18

Yet: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Yet is often translated as “and.” Many English versions translate it as Yet or “But” because this verse contrasts strongly with 21:16–17. Jesus wanted his disciples to know that although people would oppose them and even kill them, his disciples would not suffer any permanent harm. Other ways to indicate the contrast are:

Yet (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
And even though ⌊they hate/kill you⌋

not even a hair of your head will perish: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as not even a hair of your head will perish literally means that even one hair from the disciples’ heads will not be destroyed or lost. It implies that they will not be harmed at all. Other ways to say this are:

even a single one of your hairs will not be lost
-or-
nothing will be lost not even one of your hairs

Jesus used this statement in a figurative way. He spoke about a very small part of a person to imply that the disciples will not suffer any permanent harm at all.

In some languages a literal translation may give a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

none of these things can really harm you (New Century Version)
-or-

⌊no one⌋ will be able to ⌊permanently⌋ hurt/harm you

• Use an idiom or figure of speech that expresses the same meaning.

Translate this expression in a natural way in your language. If you do not choose to translate it literally, then you should put the literal text in a footnote.

a hair of your head will perish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as perish means “be lost” or “be destroyed.” In some languages people may not speak of a hair being “lost” or “destroyed.” Use a natural verb in your language. In other languages there may be a word that refers specifically to hair of the head. If that is true in your language, the phrase of your head may not be needed.

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