OET interlinear LUKE 2:8

2:8a

And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby: This part of the verse is background information. It tells about something that was happening at a different place at the time when Jesus was born. Some other ways to translate this background information are:

That night…near Bethlehem some shepherds were (CEV)

Now in this same district there were shepherds (REB)

When Mary bore Jesus, some shepherds were…near Bethlehem

That night, some shepherds were…nearby (NCV)

Express this background information in a way that is natural in your language.

shepherds: The term shepherds describes people who takes care of animals called “sheep.” If there is no word for shepherds in your language, you may use a descriptive phrase. For example:

people who tend sheep

Sheep are domestic animals that are raised for meat and for wool. If there is no word for “sheep” in your language, you may need to borrow the word. Then you can indicate the meaning with a general word in your translation of shepherds. For example:

people who care for animals called sheep

If people are not familiar with sheep in your area, you may want to include a picture in your translation.

residing in the fields: The Greek word that the BSB translates as residing in the fields is literally “living outdoors” or “living in open country.” While the shepherds were watching their sheep near the town of Bethlehem, they were living in the fields there.

fields: These fields were open, grassy areas where the sheep could eat. They were not cultivated fields.

nearby: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as nearby is literally “in the same region.” This means in the area around the town of Bethlehem.

2:8b

keeping watch over their flocks by night: The phrase keeping watch over indicates that the shepherds were protecting their sheep. The sheep were not kept in pens at night, so the shepherds took turns guarding them. They guarded their sheep so that no wild animals would hurt them and no thieves would steal them. They also watched them so that no sheep would wander away and become lost. Another way to translate this is:

They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. (GW)

their flocks: The term flock describes a group of sheep. The Greek word that the BSB translates as flocks is singular here, not plural. You may translate this as “flock of sheep” or simply “sheep,” whatever is most natural in your language.

by night: The phrase by night indicates that the shepherds watched the sheep “during the night.”