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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
Luke C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24
Luke 12 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 V55 V57 V59
OET (OET-LV) For/Because as you_are_going with the opponent of_you before a_ruler in the way, give effort to_have_released from him, lest he_may_be_dragging_ you _away to the judge, and the judge will_be_giving_ you _over to_the constable, and the constable will_be_throwing you into prison.
OET (OET-RV) Because as you’re on the way with your opponent to an arbitrator, think hard about how to resolve the case, because if you don’t, he might drag you off to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the constable, and the constable will toss you into a prison cell.
In this section Jesus again spoke to the crowd. He first rebuked them because they understood signs that the weather was going to change, but they did not understand what God was about to do. They did not know what to expect from God by the things that they saw Jesus doing. What he taught, the miracles he did, and the things that were happening to him showed that God had sent him. The people should have known and believed that he was the Messiah, and that they needed to listen to him and repent of their sins (12:54–57). Jesus warned them about this by telling them a parable about a legal dispute. The parable showed that they should reconcile with God before the time of judgment arrived (12:58–59).
Other possible headings for this section are:
Understanding the Times (NCV)
Discern What God Wants You to Do in These Days
There is a parallel passage for 12:54–56 in Matthew 16:2–3. There is a parallel passage for 12:57–59 in Matthew 5:25–26.
In this paragraph Jesus continued to speak to the crowd. He used a parable to warn the people that they should reconcile with God before the time of judgment arrived. If your readers will not understand the figurative meaning of the parable, you may wish to explain the meaning briefly in a footnote. An example of a possible footnote is:
Jesus told the people this parable/illustration to warn them that they needed to make peace with God before the time came for him to judge them.
In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that can be translated as “for.” Some English versions translate it that way. This conjunction here introduces an example that illustrates the importance of making a good decision. See the examples in the note below for ways to introduce this illustration.
Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate.
¶ “For example, if you(sing) and your enemy/accuser are going to the judge, you(sing) should try to make peace with him while the two of you are still on the way.
¶ “Here is an illustration: When/If someone accuses you(sing) because of a debt you have not paid and wants to take you to court, do all you(sing) can to settle/solve the problem/case before you both arrive there.
Make every effort: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Make every effort is more literally “make an effort.” Some English versions, such as the RSV and NJB, translate it that way. It refers here to making a serious effort. Other ways to express this meaning are:
try (CEV)
do your best (GW)
to reconcile with your adversary: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as to reconcile with your adversary is more literally “to reach a settlement.” It means in this context that the accused person will try to settle the problem of his debt with the person who has accused him. Other ways to express this phrase are:
to settle the dispute (GNT)
to make an agreement with him
adversary: The Greek word that the BSB translates as adversary refers here to a person who plans to accuse someone in court.
while you are on your way to the magistrate: This clause describes a situation that could happen. It is not a story about something that was actually happening. It describes a person who is traveling to court with the person who plans to accuse him there. If your language has a natural way to indicate that Jesus was not talking about an actual situation, you may want to use it here. For example:
For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler (GW)
If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court (GNT)
It is implied from 12:59 that the accused person will be accused of not paying a debt. In some languages it may be helpful to introduce this implied information earlier in the story. For example:
Let’s suppose that someone plans to bring charges against you in court because you owe him money.
while you are on your way: In this context, the phrase while you are on your way refers literally to being on the journey to the court. However, if you have a more general expression that refers to making an out-of-court settlement, you may use it here. For example:
out of court
before you(dual/plur) arrive there
you: The Greek word for you is in the singular. Jesus was describing a situation that any one of his listeners might face.
magistrate: The Greek word that the BSB translates as magistrate is a general word for a ruler or person in authority. In this context it refers to a judge who decides civil disputes in a court of law.
Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge,
That way, he will not force you(sing) to face the judge.
Otherwise, he will drag you(sing) before the judge.
If you(sing) do not, he may force you(sing) to go with him to the judge,
Otherwise: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Otherwise is literally “lest” (meaning “so-that-not”). Some English versions, such as the RSV, translate it that way. It introduces a negative purpose, but most versions translate it as a negative consequence. It implies: “If you do not reach an agreement, this is what will happen.” Other ways to introduce the next clause are:
If you don’t, you will be dragged (CEV)
or your adversary may drag you off (NIV)
he may drag you off to the judge: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as he may drag you off means “he may force/compel you.” It refers to taking someone somewhere he does not want to go.
the judge: The Greek word that the BSB translates as judge is not the same word as the word translated as “magistrate” in 12:58a. However, in this context it probably refers to the same person.Some scholars think that the accuser asks a magistrate to arrest the accused person. The magistrate then drags the accused person before a judge (a different official). Most scholars understand the words “magistrate” and “judge” to refer to the same person. It is a more specific word for the person in charge of a law court.
and the judge may hand you over to the officer,
If that happens, the judge will turn you(sing) over to the official in charge of the jail,
and the judge may hand you(sing) over to the policeman/jailor.
and the judge may hand you over to the officer: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as hand you over means “put you into the power/authority of.”
officer: The Greek word that the BSB translates as officer refers to the official who carried out the judge’s orders. It was probably the policeman or jailor in charge of the prison. Other ways to translate this word are:
the jailer (CEV)
the police (GNT)
and the officer may throw you into prison.
and he will imprison you(sing).
That policeman/jailor will then lock/throw you(sing) in jail.
and the officer may throw you into prison: The phrase that the BSB translates as throw you here means “put you against your will.” Another way to translate this is:
and you will be locked up (CEV)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo
ὡς γὰρ ὑπάγεις μετὰ τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σου ἐπ’ ἄρχοντα
as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς Γάρ ὑπάγεις μετά τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σοῦ ἐπʼ ἄρχοντα ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ δός ἐργασίαν ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ μήποτε κατασύρῃ σέ πρός τόν κριτήν καί ὁ κριτής σέ παραδώσει τῷ πράκτορι καί ὁ πράκτωρ σέ βαλεῖ εἰς φυλακήν)
Jesus is using a hypothetical situation to teach the crowd. Alternate translation: [Suppose you owed someone money, and suppose they were taking you to court to collect it]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parables
ὡς γὰρ ὑπάγεις μετὰ τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σου ἐπ’ ἄρχοντα
as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς Γάρ ὑπάγεις μετά τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σοῦ ἐπʼ ἄρχοντα ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ δός ἐργασίαν ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ μήποτε κατασύρῃ σέ πρός τόν κριτήν καί ὁ κριτής σέ παραδώσει τῷ πράκτορι καί ὁ πράκτωρ σέ βαλεῖ εἰς φυλακήν)
This hypothetical situation is also an illustration designed to help the people understand that they should be welcoming Jesus. Just as the debtor is going to be judged imminently, God is going to judge them imminently based on their responses to Jesus, and so they should make a positive response now, before it is too late. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [Then Jesus gave the crowd this illustration to help them understand. “Suppose you owed someone money, and suppose he was taking you to court to collect it]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd
ὑπάγεις & σου & σε
˱you˲_˓are˒_going & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς Γάρ ὑπάγεις μετά τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σοῦ ἐπʼ ἄρχοντα ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ δός ἐργασίαν ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ μήποτε κατασύρῃ σέ πρός τόν κριτήν καί ὁ κριτής σέ παραδώσει τῷ πράκτορι καί ὁ πράκτωρ σέ βαλεῖ εἰς φυλακήν)
Even though Jesus is speaking to the crowd, he is addressing an individual situation, so you and your are singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms of you and your in your translation.
Note 4 topic: translate-unknown
τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σου
the opponent (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς Γάρ ὑπάγεις μετά τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σοῦ ἐπʼ ἄρχοντα ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ δός ἐργασίαν ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ μήποτε κατασύρῃ σέ πρός τόν κριτήν καί ὁ κριτής σέ παραδώσει τῷ πράκτορι καί ὁ πράκτωρ σέ βαλεῖ εἰς φυλακήν)
In the context of this story, the term adversary means specifically an opponent in a legal proceeding. You could translate it with the equivalent term in your language. Alternatively, since the next verse indicates that the adversary is trying to collect a debt, you could describe him in a way that indicates that. Alternate translation: [your opponent] or [your creditor]
Note 5 topic: translate-unknown
ἄρχοντα
˓a˒_ruler
A magistrate is a general term for a person in legal authority. You can translate it with the equivalent general term in your language. Alternate translation: [the official]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ
˓to_have˒_released from him
If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [to settle the matter out of court] or [to have him forgive your debt]
Note 7 topic: translate-unknown
τὸν κριτήν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς Γάρ ὑπάγεις μετά τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σοῦ ἐπʼ ἄρχοντα ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ δός ἐργασίαν ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ μήποτε κατασύρῃ σέ πρός τόν κριτήν καί ὁ κριτής σέ παραδώσει τῷ πράκτορι καί ὁ πράκτωρ σέ βαλεῖ εἰς φυλακήν)
The term the judge refers to the same person as the magistrate, but the term here is more specific and threatening. In your translation you can use the specific term in your language that describes someone with the power to deliver a verdict and pass sentence on a defendant.
Note 8 topic: translate-unknown
τῷ πράκτορι
˱to˲_the constable
In the context of the story, the term the officer refers to a court official who was empowered to collect debts that a judge had ruled were owed and to put the debtor in prison if he did not pay. Your language may have a similar term that you can use. Alternate translation: [the bailiff]
12:58 on the way to court: This lawsuit over an unpaid debt would result in debtor’s prison. The officer is the bailiff of the court or the warden of the prison. It is advisable to negotiate accounts with your accuser, if possible, before reaching the courtroom. It is also best to reckon with God before the final day of judgment.
OET (OET-LV) For/Because as you_are_going with the opponent of_you before a_ruler in the way, give effort to_have_released from him, lest he_may_be_dragging_ you _away to the judge, and the judge will_be_giving_ you _over to_the constable, and the constable will_be_throwing you into prison.
OET (OET-RV) Because as you’re on the way with your opponent to an arbitrator, think hard about how to resolve the case, because if you don’t, he might drag you off to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the constable, and the constable will toss you into a prison cell.
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.