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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
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Luke 11 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45 V47 V49 V51 V53
OET (OET-LV) The lamp of_the body is the eye of_you.
Whenever the eye of_you may_be healthy, all the body of_you is also bright, but when evil may_be, the body of_you is also dark.
OET (OET-RV) Your eyes are like the lamp for your body. Whenever your eyes are healthy, your entire body will be bright, but when your eyes are evil, your body is also dark,
In this section, Jesus used the metaphors of a lamp, light, darkness, eye, and body. The lamp and the light are illustrations of Jesus and his teaching. Both Jesus’ life and teaching revealed God to the people. People whose spiritual eyesight was good were able to understand and accept his message. They were like someone whose mind or body was full of light. People who rejected his message were like a person who was full of darkness.
Jesus used these metaphors to tell the people (in 11:29–32) that their spiritual eyes were diseased. They could not receive the light of his message. If they had been willing to accept his message, then their minds would have been full of light. They would not have asked for another miracle to prove that God had sent him.
Some other possible headings for this section are:
Jesus’ message is like a lamp and like light
The light of the body (GNT)
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 5:15 and 6:22–23.
There are two sayings about a lamp in this paragraph: one in 11:33 and another in 11:34–36. In 11:33 Jesus compared himself and his teaching to a lamp. People put a lamp where its light will be seen. In the same way, Jesus taught in public where everyone could hear and see him.
In 11:34 the topic is different. Here a person’s eye (his attitude toward Jesus’ message) is compared to a lamp. This lamp provides him with light (spiritual illumination or understanding).A number of commentators say that in this context the eye represents a person’s attitude toward Jesus, his willingness or unwillingness to accept Jesus’ message. Evans (p. 188) uses the term “moral disposition,” referring to a person’s inclination to receive Jesus’ message or to reject him. Marshall (p. 489) speaks of a person being “single-mindedly receptive to the light of the gospel,” and Liefeld (p. 954) says that the body receives light through the eye “subject to the individual’s will.” Morris (p. 221) also speaks of a person’s attention being focused on good (in the case of a healthy eye) or on evil (in the case of a bad eye). Nolland (p. 657) agrees that the eye here is a metaphor for “moral and spiritual readiness to see.”
In 11:34–36, Jesus used the word “body” to refer to the person himself. Consider if it would be better to make this explicit. One way to do this in English is to use “you” throughout this passage. For example:
34Your eye is your lamp. When your eyes are good, you also are full of light. But when they are bad, you also are full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if you are full of light, and no part is dark, you will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.
In some languages, it may be more natural to use terms such as “a person” and “his” in parts of 11:34–36. For example:
34aThe eye is the lamp of a person’s body. 34bWhen a person’s eyes are good, his whole body also is full of light. 34cBut when they are bad, his body also is full of darkness. 35He must see to it, then, that the light within him is not darkness. 36aTherefore, if a person’s whole body is full of light, 36band no part of it dark, 36cit will be completely lighted, 36das when the light of a lamp shines on him.
Also note that in the Greek text Jesus used the singular forms for “your” and “you” throughout this passage. However, he was talking about anybody and everybody. Consider if it would be better to use the plural forms for “you” and “your” in this context. The Display will use both forms.
Your eye is the lamp of your body.
Your(sing/plur) eyes are like the lamp for your body.
Your(sing/plur) eyes are like a lamp that gives you light.
A person’s eye is like his body’s lamp.
Your eye is the lamp of your body: This is a complex metaphor. It compares a person’s eyes (both physical and spiritual) with a lamp. The point of similarity is that both of these help him to see. A person’s physical eyes receive light and enable him to see where he is going and what is happening. A person’s spiritual eyes represent his attitude toward Jesus and his message. This attitude determines whether a person will understand the message.
Some ways to translate this metaphor are:
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
A person’s eye is like his lamp.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the point of similarity. For example:
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. It helps you to see.
If the figure of the eye is not understood correctly, you may want to add a footnote. For example:
In Jewish thinking, the eye was the part of the body that could receive or see light. Here Jesus used the eye as an illustration of a person’s willingness to receive spiritual light or truth.
Your eye: In some languages, it may be more natural to use the plural “Your eyes” rather than the singular “Your eye.” For example:
Your eyes are the lamp for your body (CEV)
your body: The phrase your body is a figure of speech. This phrase represents you as a whole or you as a person. As mentioned above, some other ways to translate your body are:
you
a person
In 11:34b–e, Jesus used good eyes and bad eyes as a figure of speech. He contrasted the results of having good eyes and bad eyes. In the example below, the meaning of the figure is put in parentheses.
34bWhen your eyes are good (When you accept my message),
34cyour whole body also is full of light (you will understand the truth about me and it will guide you to do what is right).
34dBut when your eyes are bad (But when you ignore or reject my message),
34eyour body also is full of darkness (you will remain ignorant of the truth about me).
When your eyes are good,
When your(sing/plur) eyes are healthy,
If a person is able to see clearly/properly,
A person who accepts my message is like someone who has good eyes. If a person is like that,
When: The word When introduces a condition or circumstance. It is not an expression of time.
your eyes are good: The word good in this context means “healthy.” A person whose eyes are good, healthy, or clear can see well. The meaning of this figure is, “If you accept my message.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:
When/If your sight is good
If you are able to see clearly/properly
A person with good eyes
In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning explicit. For example:
A person who accepts my message is like someone who has good eyes. If a person is like that…
your whole body also is full of light.
there will be light in/for your(sing/plur) whole body.
it is as if his entire body/mind is lit.
he will completely understand the truth. It will be as if his whole body is full of light.
your whole body also is full of light: The clause your whole body also is full of light pictures light entering the body and lighting up the entire body. In this context, the meaning is that the person’s whole being (body/mind/heart) will be completely lit up. The meaning of this figure is “he will really/properly understand the truth.”
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
there is light in/for the whole body
you will have plenty of light
it is as if your entire mind/being is illuminated
In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning more explicit. For example:
he will completely understand the truth. It will be as if his whole body is illuminated.
But when they are bad,
But when your(sing/plur) eyes are not healthy,
But if a person is not able to see clearly/properly,
But a person who rejects my message is like someone whose eyes are bad. If a person is like that,
But when: These words introduce a contrast to the situation described in 11:34b. See the note on when in that verse part.
they are bad: The word they in this clause refers to “your eyes” as in 11:34b. In this context, “bad eyes” refers to eyes that are diseased or that have something wrong with them. The meaning of this figure of speech is “if you reject my message.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:
When your sight is bad/faulty
If you are not able to see clearly/properly
A person with bad eyes
In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning explicit. For example:
But a person who rejects my message is like someone whose eyes are bad. If a person is like that…
your body is full of darkness.
there will be darkness in/for your(sing/plur) whole body.
it is as if his body/mind is completely dark.
he will not understand the truth at all. It will be as if his whole body is full of darkness.
your body is full of darkness: The clause your body is full of darkness is a figure of speech. It means that light is not able to enter the body, so the inside of the body is dark. In this context the meaning is that the person’s whole being (body/mind/heart) will be completely dark. The meaning of this figure is “he will be completely unable to understand the truth.”
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
there is darkness for the whole body
you will live in darkness
it is as if your entire mind is in the dark
In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning more explicit. For example:
he will be completely unable to understand the truth. It will be as if his body is completely dark inside.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου
the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)
The eye is a lamp in a figurative sense. It is not a source of light, but a channel of light. Alternate translation: [Your eye lets light into your body]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd
σου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)
Even though Jesus is speaking to the crowd, he is addressing an individual situation, so your and you are singular in [11:34–36](../11/34.md). But if the singular form of these pronouns would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms in your translation.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor
ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινόν ἐστιν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)
Jesus is drawing an extended comparison between physical vision and spiritual receptivity. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the comparison. Alternate translation: [When your eye is healthy, it lets light into your whole body. In the same way, if you are willing to obey God, you will understand and live by his message for every part of your life]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor
ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου σκοτεινόν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)
Jesus continues to draw an extended comparison between physical vision and spiritual receptivity. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the comparison. Alternate translation: [But when your eye is unhealthy, it does not let light into any of your body. In the same way, if you are not willing to obey God, you will not understand and live by his message for any part of your life]
ἐπὰν δὲ πονηρὸς ᾖ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώματος ἐστίν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ Ὅταν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ ἁπλοῦς ᾖ καί ὅλον τό σῶμα σοῦ φωτεινόν ἐστίν ἐπάν δέ πονηρός ᾖ καί τό σῶμα σοῦ σκοτεινόν)
In this context, Jesus is using the term evil to contrast with healthy, so it means “unhealthy.” Alternate translation: [But when your eye is unhealthy]
OET (OET-LV) The lamp of_the body is the eye of_you.
Whenever the eye of_you may_be healthy, all the body of_you is also bright, but when evil may_be, the body of_you is also dark.
OET (OET-RV) Your eyes are like the lamp for your body. Whenever your eyes are healthy, your entire body will be bright, but when your eyes are evil, your body is also dark,
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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