complete verse (Luke 6:44)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 6:44:

  • Noongar: “People know all trees because of the fruit they bear. You do not pick quondong from thorn bushes. You do not pick kamak berries from mallee trees.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “The goodness of each kind of tree is known by its fruit. Figs are not plucked from thorny vines. Grapes are not plucked from nettles.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “A tree is known by it’s fruit. We (incl.) do not get guavas from a thorn bush (puhung) or lansones from the weed-touch-me-not (sampinit).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Every tree can be identified by means of its fruit. For the banag tree, it does not bear grapes, and the seg`a tree, it does not bear figs.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That which distinguishes every tree is its fruit, because obviously one does not pick guavas from a bamboo or pick grapes from rattan (a thorny vine).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Of course, each tree can be recognized by its fruit. For a sinipit-vine doesn’t bear igos fruit, nor do thorny weeds bear ubas fruit.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

See also figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

vine

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated in English typically as “vine” is translated in Lak as къюмайтӀутӀул мурхьра: “the (grape-) cluster tree.”

Vitaly Voinov tells this story: “Laks (who live in the mountainous regions of Dagestan) historically have had no experience with planting and tending vineyards. They buy grapes at the market or the store, but that’s about all they know of grape growing. Thus, in field testing, none of the readers could picture the primary image of this chapter. The translator’s initial attempt of rendering ‘vine’ as ‘grape stalk’ met with complete non-understanding. After much discussion of the problem and potential solutions, we settled on what one of the field testing respondents suggested to remedy the problem: ‘vine’ was rendered as ‘the (grape-)cluster tree’ (къюмайтӀутӀул мурхьра). Technically grapes of course don’t grow on trees, but something had to be put in the text, and it had to be said in a way that the average reader/hearer could understand it. The Lak team could have borrowed the Russian word for ‘vine’ (лоза), but since this is a very low-frequency word in the Russian language, it’s likely that many Laks wouldn’t know the Russian word either. So the team settled for a reduction of accuracy in order to achieve greater clarity. After all, the primary point of importance in this passage is not a horticultural analysis, but a metaphorical comparison to the spiritual world, to the relationship between the Father, His Son, and the followers of Jesus. This rendering allows readers to get to the core of this meaning without getting tangled up in unknown terms.”

In Elhomwe it is translated as “tree of grapes” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext), Akan (Fante dialect) and Ewe have “wine tree” (source: Anthony Badu in Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology 2021, p. 88ff. ).

 

The Common Grape Vine Vitis vinifera is mentioned more often than any other plant or tree in the Bible. Excavations in Greece have discovered grape seeds dating to 4500 B.C. Egyptian records document the existence of cultivated vines in Canaan as early as 2375 B.C., and subsequent records report trade in vine products around 1360 B.C. and many times thereafter.

The vine is a creeping plant that develops a woody stem when it matures. It grows along the ground until it finds a tree or other object to climb, using tendrils. It bears bunches of small round fruit that are sweet and juicy. Today farmers grow them commercially throughout the Mediterranean area, in South Africa, in North America, and in many other countries. The first reference to the vine in the Bible (Genesis 9:20) tells us that Noah planted a vineyard (Hebrew kerem) and that he made an alcoholic drink from the fruit. Farmers since then have improved on the size, color, and quality of the fruit by careful pruning and selection until now there are at least 65 kinds of grapevines. Like many other plants in temperate areas, the vine has leaves that appear in early spring. After the fruit is picked and the weather gets cold, the leaves drop off and the plant is bare until the following spring. A typical vineyard in Bible times was surrounded by a stone fence. It had a stone tower from which the owner could watch for predators, and a place to squeeze the juice out of the fruits.

The vine is the most frequently cited plant in the Bible, and that alone makes it special. Vines, grapes, raisins, and wine were a major element of Jewish life, so it is not a surprise that the vine and its products are used figuratively probably more than any other Bible plant. After the flood purified the earth at the time of Noah, the vine became the means by which the human race was plunged again into sin (Genesis 9:20). We know from Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49:11f. and other passages that the vine was the symbol of blessing, prosperity, and happiness. The fact that there were groups like the Nazirites and Rechabites who abstained from drinking wine simply shows the radical self-denial that these people imposed on themselves. A drink offering of wine was an important part of worship (Exodus 29:40), and the image of contentment was “every man under his vine and under his fig tree” (Micah 4:4). Jotham includes the vine in his well-known Parable of the Trees (Judges 9:7ff.). In the New Testament, Jesus rescued a man from humiliation at a wedding party by miraculously providing a fresh supply of wine (John 2:1ff.). Wine becomes a major symbol in the Christian community when Jesus foreshadows his crucifixion by comparing the wine poured out in the Passover celebration to his blood (Matthew 26:27f. et al.). He speaks of the need for Christians to be like the branches of the vine, drawing their nourishment from him, the True Vine (John 15.:1ff.). Nearly every New Testament writer makes some metaphorical reference to the vine or its products.

There are around 65 kinds of grapevines (Vitis vinifera) found in the Northern Hemisphere. They belong to a larger family of creeping plants called Vitaceae, which has over 800 species throughout the world including many in the tropical and warm climates of the world.

Grapevines have occasionally been grown in West Africa (for example, in The Gambia and in northern Nigeria) but are not well known even where they are grown commercially. Attempts at substituting a local tree name have not been entirely successful because the species chosen is usually not cultivated and/or does not have the same economic or social function that the grape had in Israel.
Thus it is probably best to use a transliteration from a major language. However, in parts of Nigeria and perhaps elsewhere, the word grep refers to “grapefruit” and should be avoided in translation. A transliteration from “vine” or “wine” is preferred, although a translator needs to be careful. The English word “vine” refers to any creeping plant, but it also refers to a particular kind of vine that produces grapes (Vitis vinifera). This can be confusing. Furthermore, translators in English-speaking countries should think carefully about what they are going to do with the word “wine.” In The Gambia, Mandinka translators first used “wayini tree” but later concluded that it may be better to have a word for “vine” that is not necessarily identical with “wine.” Bine, from binekaro (“vinegar”), was considered, as was inabi (“grape”) from Arabic.

Languages that borrow the Arabic word inabi must deal with the fact that this word bears an unfortunate resemblance to annabi (“prophet”) and new readers reading “water of inabi” in a context of prophecy may associate it, for better or worse, with prophets and prophecy. In northern Nigeria church people have gotten used to inabi in the New Testament even though many of them don’t know what it is. Basa in Nigeria uses a wild grape-like plant (afwafwa), and Igala has used the same species (achiwebetema) for years. Likewise, two translations in Mali and Burkina Faso use their local name for a wild vine (Lannea microcarpa) for the biblical vine. There is a species (Rhoicissus tridentata) in southern and eastern Africa known as “African grape” (locally called “bobbejaantou”). In such cases translators should write a footnote (or glossary item) stating that the grapes of Bible times were larger and sweeter than the local variety, and that they were cultivated extensively as a source for producing beverages. Other possibilities for transliteration are: vinyola/videra (Portuguese), vitis (Latin), and inab (Arabic).

Fruit of the vine (Hebrew ‘enav; Greek botrus, staphulē): There is some evidence that botrus refers to a bunch of grapes, while staphulē refers to individual grapes. According to Louw and Nida (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains, 1988), however, both words may refer to individual grapes as well as bunches of grapes. The Hebrew word tirosh is equivalent to the word “vintage” in English, that is, the grape harvest and possibly the first squeezing of the grapes. It is normally used along with the words referring to the olive harvest (yitshar) and grain harvest (dagan).

Vine with clusters of grapes, photo by Ray Pritz

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

fig

Two types of fig trees are mentioned in the Bible, the Common Fig Ficus carica (Hebrew te’enah) and the Sycomore Fig Ficus sycomorus (Hebrew shiqmah; see “Sycomore fig”). They are closely related. The common fig tree grows not only in Israel, but throughout the world in warm climates. In the Holy Land it was a common source of food; the fruit was eaten both fresh and dried. Sometimes the dried ones were pressed together to form flat “cakes” or blocks (Hebrew develah). But, just as important, the large leaves of the fig make it an excellent shade tree. However, the first use of the fig mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 3:7) was not for food or shade but for clothing; Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves for themselves to cover their nakedness.

The fig was probably domesticated in northwestern Turkey from a wild variety that grew there around 5000 years ago. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian records indicate that the fruits were popular. Figs are now grown especially in Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Portugal, as well as in the warm parts of the United States.

The fig is believed to be indigenous to western Asia and to have been distributed by humans and birds throughout the Mediterranean area. Remnants of figs have been found in excavations of sites traced to at least 5000 B.C.

The domesticated fig grows to about 5-8 meters (17-26 feet) and has a round crown and very deep and round roots. The trunk may grow to be more than 70 centimeters (2 feet) thick. Fig trees may grow to be several decades old, if they are well cared for. Figs are usually propagated by planting cuttings. The pollination of the flowers is an amazingly intricate process closely linked to the life cycle of a tiny wasp, and the fact that fig trees, like papayas and date palms, are male or female. (There are now some kinds of figs that produce fruit without pollination.) The fruits are about the size of a hen’s egg and can be green, yellow, purple, or brown depending on the type. They are sweet and soft and difficult to transport. For that reason most farmers dry the fruits before shipping them. The “fruit” of the fig is technically a strangely shaped flower. Noting the absence of a “real” flower, the ancient people of India called it a flowerless tree.

The common fig tree, along with the vine and the olive, is one of the three “top trees” for the Jews. The Bible refers to the fig over 270 times. The image of peace and happiness in Israel was “every man under his vine and under his fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25).

Wild figs are common throughout the tropical world; there are at least eight hundred species of Ficus, thirty-two in southern Africa alone. The banyan, peepul, and bo are all types of fig. The fruits of wild fig trees are not nearly as juicy or sweet as those of the domesticated ones. In many places people eat the fruit when they find it in the wild, but do not market it or cultivate the trees. Translators are urged to use the local word, and, if necessary, use a footnote to indicate the difference between the local one and the biblical one. Where it is not known at all, transliterations from a major language may be used in nonfigurative contexts.

Fig tree, Wikimedia Commons
Fig leaves, photo by Ray Pritz

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

Translation commentary on Luke 6:44

Exegesis:

gar ‘for,’ introduces the principle which underlies the statements of v. 43.

ek tou idiou karpou ginōsketai ‘is known by its own fruit.’ The present tense is used in order to express a general truth. ek indicates the source of knowledge.

ou gar ex akanthōn sullegousin suka ‘for one does not gather figs from thorns.’ gar introduces self-evident facts as examples of the principle which v. 44a expresses. sullegousin is used in an impersonal sense. sukon.

akantha ‘thorn plant.’

sullegō ‘to collect,’ ‘to gather,’ a very general word.

oude ek batou staphulēn trugōsin ‘nor does one pick grapes from a thorn bush.’

batos (also 20.37) ‘thorn bush,’ ‘bramble bush.’

staphulē ‘bunch of grapes,’ ‘grapes,’ usually referring to ripe grapes.

trugaō ‘to gather (ripe fruit).’ As compared with sullegō it is a much more specific term.

Translation:

Each tree is known by its own fruit may have to be expanded, e.g. ‘one knows trees by looking at the fruit that each (of them) bears,’ ‘one knows a tree when one knows its fruit, or, the fruit it produces.’

The second for is best rendered, ‘of course,’ ‘as everyone knows.’

Figs. The reference is to an edible and valued kind of fruit. A more or less literal rendering is often possible but in some languages another fruit has to be substituted, either in all occurrences or specifically in this verse, e.g. in Tae’ 1933 (‘bananas’), Huixtec Tzotzil (‘apples’).

Thorns. The name of any kind of thorny wild growth, shrub or tree with no fruits, or inedible fruits will do.

Grapes. Where ‘wine’ is known but ‘grapes’ are not one may say ‘wine-fruits’ (Bahasa Indonesia); elsewhere the name of edible berries, or of the fruits producing the beverage used instead of ‘wine’ (for which see on 1.15) may be acceptable, or again a local equivalent not connected with wine, e.g. ‘peaches’ (Huixtec, Tzotzil), ‘guava (Psidium Guajava)’ (Tae’ 1933).

Picked, more specific than, but virtually synonymous with, “gathered”. Where no synonymous verb is available it may be omitted in the second clause, as done in Tae.’

Bramble bush, synonymous with “thorns”, ‘thorn-bush,’ symbol of unfruitfulness.

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 6:44

6:44a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For marks this proverb as an explanation of what Jesus has just said. Some versions, such as the New International Version, Contemporary English Version, and New Living Translation (2004), do not translate this conjunction. Think about how you would introduce this saying in your language. For example:

Thus
-or-
In that way

Use a natural way to connect 6:44a to 6:43.

each tree is known by its own fruit: This is a passive clause. It means that when people see the fruit that a tree produces, they know what that tree is like. This includes knowing both the kind of tree (fig trees produce figs) and the quality of the tree (good or bad). Some ways to translate this are:

• As a passive clause. For example:

Each tree is known by its own fruit… (New Century Version)

• As an active clause. For example:

⌊People⌋ know what a tree is like by its fruit.
-or-
You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. (Contemporary English Version)

This saying is like a proverb. It means that the way a person acts shows what he is really like inside. It may be helpful to put this information in a footnote.

6:44b–c

Indeed: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Indeed connects 6:44b–c to 6:44a. It marks 6:44b–c as a further explanation of 6:44a. Versions such as the English Standard Version, NET Bible, and Revised Standard Version translate it as “For.” Versions such as the New International Version, Contemporary English Version, and New Living Translation (2004) do not translate the conjunction. Some other ways to connect 6:44b are:

For example
-or-
That is

Use a natural way to connect 6:44b–c to 6:44a in your language.

figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles: Jesus further explained the image of the fruit tree. The type of tree you grow determines the type of fruit you will get. Similarly, the type of person you are determines the way you will speak and act.

6:44b

figs are not gathered from thornbushes: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as figs are not gathered from thornbushes is literally “from thorn plants they do not pick figs.” Some other ways to translate this are:

You don’t pick figs from thorny plants (God’s Word)
-or-
Figs are never gathered from thornbushes (New Living Translation (2004))

The reason why people do not gather fruit from thornbushes is that it is impossible. Thornbushes do not grow fruit. So in some languages, it may be more natural to say “cannot pick.” For example:

You cannot pick figs…from thornbushes. (Contemporary English Version)

gathered: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gathered is a general word for the action of picking or plucking anything. People pick fruit such as figs with the intention of eating what was picked. Another way to translate this is:

gathered (New Living Translation (2004))

figs: The word figs are small, tasty fruits that grow on trees. Figs were very common in Israel.

If speakers of your language are not familiar with figs, some other ways to translate this word are:

• Use a more general term. For example:

fruit

• Use a specific type of fruit from your area. For example:

guavas
-or-
mangoes

thornbushes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as thornbushes refers to a plant that has thorns. It is a weed that grows in areas that people do not cultivate. If possible, you should translate this word by a general word that refers to these types of plants. For example:

thorny plants (God’s Word)

If you do not have a general word, you may translate this word by a specific type of thorny weed that grows in your area.

6:44c

nor grapes from brambles: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nor grapes from brambles is literally “nor do they pick a cluster of grapes from a bramble bush.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate the Greek verb in this clause. Another way to translate this is:

nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush (New American Standard Bible)

Some other ways to translate this are:

and they don’t get grapes from bushes (New Century Version)
-or-
and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes (New Living Translation (2004))

The Greek text uses a verb in 6:44b that specifically describes the action of harvesting fruit and a different verb in 6:44c that describes removing grapes from vines. Another way to translate this is:

figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush (English Standard Version)

If you have two different verbs that can describe gathering and picking fruit, you could use them here. If you do not have two words, you could use the same verb in both clauses, or you could leave out one verb, as the Berean Standard Bible has done.

grapes: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grapes refers to small fruit that grow in bunches or clusters. Grapes are very tasty. In some languages, there may not be a word for grapes. If this is true in your language, here are some other options to consider:

• Borrow the word for “grape” from another language. For example:

⌊a fruit called⌋ grapes

(Notice that grapes are different from and much smaller than grapefruit.)

• Use a general term that would fit in this context. For example:

small fruits

• Use a specific word for another type of small fruit that grows in your area.

brambles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brambles has almost the same meaning as “thornbushes” in 6:44b. Both words refer to thorny plants that do not produce fruit that people can eat. Scholars do not know the exact plants that Jesus was talking about.

If your language does not distinguish between different types of thorny plants, here are other ways to translate this:

• Choose a second plant that is bothersome to farmers or useless in providing food.

• Combine the two types of thorny plants into one. For example:

You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes. (Contemporary English Version)

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