OET interlinear LUKE 22:31

22:31a

At the end of the preceding section, Jesus was speaking to all the apostles. Here in 22:31 he spoke to Peter. In many languages it may be helpful to introduce his words to Peter with a short phrase.Some Greek manuscripts include the phrase “and the Lord said.” Of English versions, the GW, KJV, and CEV follow these manuscripts. Metzger (1994, p. 150) indicates with a B decision that it is not likely that these words were included in the original text. However, in many languages it is helpful or even necessary to include a phrase like this for clarity. For example:

Then Jesus said to Peter

When Jesus spoke to Peter in this verse, he used his original name “Simon.” In some languages it is helpful to include the name Simon in the introductory phrase. For example:

And Jesus said to Simon PeterWestern Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

Simon, Simon: Simon was Peter’s original name. In 6:14 Luke mentioned that Jesus gave Simon the name Peter. After that verse, he is usually called “Simon Peter” in Luke. However, you should not add the name “Peter” to Jesus’ words here. The name Peter means “rock,” and it implies strength and courage. Jesus predicted in this section that Satan was about to sift Simon and the other disciples like wheat.

Jesus said Simon’s name twice to emphasize what he was about to tell Simon. After Simon’s name, the Greek text has a word that versions such as the RSV translate as “behold.” This word emphasizes that Jesus wanted Simon to pay special attention to what he was about to say. It does not imply that Simon had not been listening to Jesus before.

Here Jesus was about to warn Simon about a great danger. Languages have different ways to introduce such warnings and to emphasize them. In some languages, it may not be natural to repeat Simon’s name in this context. Be sure to translate the warning in a natural and emphatic way in your language.

Some other ways to do that are:

Simon, listen to me! (CEV)

Hey Simon, I have something to say to you.Western Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

Oh Simon, I must warn/tell you about this:

Listen well, Simon, and remember this:

22:31b

Satan’s request in this clause is similar to what he requested to do to Job in Job 1:6–12 and 2:1–6.

Satan has asked to: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as has asked to means “to request or demand.” Here it indicates that Satan requested or demanded to be allowed to do something. It does not imply that he asked a question. Some other ways to translate this are:

Satan has demanded to (NRSV)

Satan has demanded the right to (CEV)

Satan has requested opportunity to

In this context God was the one whom Satan asked for permission. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

Satan has demanded permission from God

The verb has asked to implies that God had agreed to Satan’s request: God agreed that Satan could sift the apostles. In some languages it may be helpful to make God’s agreement explicit. For example:

Satan has received permission (GNT)

God has given Satan permission

22:31c

sift each of you like wheat: The phrase sift each of you like wheat is a metaphor. Jesus compared what Satan wanted to do to the apostles with what a farmer does to wheat. A farmer sifts the wheat to separate the good grain from the worthless husks, straw, and other parts of the plant. Satan wanted to cause the apostles to be like the husks and straw. He wanted to cause all the apostles to leave Jesus and stop trusting him.

In some languages people may not understand this metaphor. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a simile that indicates the meaning. For example:

  He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks. (GW)

  Like rice that is winnowed, like that also will be the severity of the temptation that strikes you.Uma back translation on TW.

• Use a metaphor that has the same meaning in your language. For example:

  to shake you away from me

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

  to test you to see if he can cause you to stop trusting/following me

  to try to make you be unfaithful to me

Translate the metaphor in a natural way in your language. It is used in a similar way in Amos 9:9.

sift: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sift means: “to shake in a sieve.” This word occurs only once in the New Testament. Scholars are not sure exactly how the sifting was done or what type of sieve was used. The farmer may have shaken the wheat violently in the sieve to make the husks and straw blow away in the wind. If you keep the metaphor, use appropriate terms in your culture to describe the sifting.

each of you: The pronoun you is plural here. Jesus referred to all the apostles, not only to Peter. If the pronoun in your language does not make this clear, you can indicate it in another way. For example:

you apostles (GW)

all of you (REB)

each of you (NLT)

wheat: The word wheat refers to a certain type of grain plant and to the grain that the plant produces. Wheat plants have a stalk. On top of the stalk there are clusters of seeds, which are the wheat grains.

In some areas wheat may not be known. If that is true in your area, other ways to translate it are:

• Use a more general term. For example:

  grain

• Use a different type of grain that is grown in your area and is similar to wheat. For example:

  barley

  rice

This word also occurs in 3:17 and 16:7. See how you translated it there.