Translation commentary on Luke 8:35

Exegesis:

exēlthon de idein to gegonos ‘and they went out to see what had happened.’ The subject is the people to whom the herdsmen had told their story.

kai ēlthon pros ton Iēsoun ‘and they came to Jesus.’ ēlthon denotes the result of exēlthon ‘they went out.’

kai heuron kathēmenon ton anthrōpon … para tous podas tou Iēsou ‘and they found the man sitting at Jesus’ feet,’ i.e. as a disciple (cf. Acts 22.3).

himatismenon kai sōphronounta ‘dressed and in his right mind,’ apposition to the noun in the participial clause in which it is inserted, and carrying the main semantic load.

himatizō ‘to dress,’ ‘to clothe.’

sōphroneō ‘to be in one’s right mind,’ of mental health.

kai ephobēthēsan ‘and they were afraid,’ cf. on 1.13.

Translation:

People may have to be specified, e.g. ‘those who-had-been-told’ (Javanese), ‘those dwelling there,’ ‘the inhabitants.’

If a break in the series of clauses is desirable, they came is best taken with what precedes, e.g. ‘people went out to see … and came to Jesus (or, to where Jesus was). There they found….’

And found the man … sitting …, or, ‘and there they came upon the man … and saw him (or, saw how he was) sitting…,’ ‘and there they perceived the man…; he was sitting….’ Cf. also on 7.10.

The man from whom the demons had gone, i.e. the man who was no longer demon possessed, the final result of what is told in vv. 29, 33.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus. The verb, suggesting an attitude of calm repose, contrasts with “driven” in v. 29. Where a literal rendering of the prepositional phrase would be misleading or unidiomatic it may be rendered, ‘(on the ground) before J.,’ ‘near J.,’ ‘beside J.’ (Zarma, Tboli), ‘in the presence (lit. at the nose) of J.’ (Ekari). If the language possesses an idiom said of a disciple who sits listening attentively to his master its use should be considered here. — This and the following phrases may have to be rendered as separate clauses.

Clothed contrasts with “had worn no clothes” in v. 27.

In his right mind is rendered variously, e.g. ‘come to his cleanness/purity’ (Marathi), ‘(his) thoughts having become right’ (Ekari), ‘his intelligence having-become clean again’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘having-mind’ (Batak Toba), ‘settled his mind’ (Tae’), or simply, ‘settled/fixed’ (Balinese).

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 8:35

8:35a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So here introduces what happened next as a result of what the herdsmen reported. Some English versions say “and” (New International Version), while others (English Standard Version) say “then.” Some versions (Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004)) do not use a conjunction. Connect 8:35a to 8:34 in a way that is natural in your language.

the people went out: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the people went out is literally “they went out.” It refers in general to the inhabitants of the city and countryside who heard the report of the herdsmen. In some languages it will be more natural to supply a subject such as “people” or “everyone,” as many English versions do.

went out to see what had happened: This phrase indicates that people left the places where they were in order to go and see what had happened. They wanted to see for themselves what the herdsmen had told them about. Compare 8:35c–d, which indicates that they arrived where Jesus was.

8:35b

They came to Jesus: This verse part begins with a Greek conjunction that many English versions, such as the English Standard Version and NET Bible, translate as “and.” Other versions, such as the New International Version and Contemporary English Version, translate it as as “when” to indicate the sequence of events. Some versions do not translate this conjunction. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language.

Some languages may need to state first that the people arrived at the place where Jesus was and then that they came to him. For example:

When they got to the place where Jesus was, they came to him

8:35c–d

found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind: In this context found the man indicates that they came to the place where the man was. It indicates especially that they noticed that he was sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. The word found does not imply that he was lost. Another way to translate this is:

saw/discovered that the man whom the demons had released was now sitting at Jesus’ feet, wearing clothes, and in his right mind

the man whom the demons had left: This phrase refers back to the man whom Jesus had released from the demons’ control. Refer to him in a natural way in your language. Some ways to do this are:

the man, whom the evil spirits had left (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
the man (New Century Version)
-or-
the man who had been freed from the demons (New Living Translation (2004))

See the note on “a demon-possessed man” at 8:27b.

demons: This is the same word as 8:27b, 8:30c, and 8:33a.

sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind: Of the three things said about the man, probably the fact that he was in his right mind is the most important. Consider if it would be more natural in your language to place this first in the list rather than last. For example:

in his right mind, dressed, and sitting ⌊calmly⌋ at Jesus’ feet

sitting at Jesus’ feet: The man was sitting on the ground in front of Jesus. This was how people often sat in the presence of a teacher, and it implies a humble, submissive attitude. The people could see that the man was sitting quietly and peacefully. He was no longer wild and uncontrollable. Use a natural expression in your language to describe his position. Consider also if you have an expression that describes both the position and attitude of a learner with his teacher or master.

in his right mind: The phrase in his right mind indicates that the man’s mind was normal. He was no longer insane. In many languages this is expressed by an idiom. Other ways to say this are:

his mind was right/healed
-or-
his mind had returned
-or-
he was thinking/acting normally

8:35e

and they were afraid: Although the people were looking at the rescued man, they were afraid because of Jesus. This is made clear in 8:37a–b. When Jesus delivered the man from the demons, he showed that he had great supernatural power. This caused the people to fear him. Translate they were afraid with a natural expression that describes this type of “fear” or “dread” in your language. See how you translated the similar words and emotion at 8:25a.

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