LUKE 11:52 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken away the key of knowledge; you have not entered yourselves, and you have hindered the ones entering.”

UST How terrible it will be for you teachers of the Jewish laws. You are keeping people from knowing about God! You do not know God yourselves, and you make things difficult for other people who want to know God better.”

BSB Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

BLB Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who are entering."

AICNT “Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter.”

OEB Alas for you students of the Law! You have taken away the key of the door of knowledge. You have not gone in yourselves and you have hindered those who try to go in.’

WEBBE Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.”

WMBB Woe to you Torah scholars! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.”

NET Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.”

LSV Woe to you, the lawyers, because you took away the key of the knowledge; you yourselves did not enter; and you hindered those coming in.”

FBV Shame on you lawyers! You have removed the key of knowledge. You didn't go in yourselves, and you prevented others from going in too.”

TCNT Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were trying to enter.”

T4T There will be terrible punishment for you men who teach the Jewish laws, because you have not let people know God’s truth [MET]! It is as though you are taking away a key to a house. You are not going into the house yourselves, and you are not letting other people enter it, either.”

LEB Woe to you, legal experts, because you have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering!”

BBE A curse is on you, teachers of the law! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you did not go in yourselves, and you got in the way of those who were going in.

Moff Woe to you jurists! you have taken the key that unlocks the door of knowledge;
⇔ you have not entered yourselves,
⇔ and you have stopped those who were entering."

Wymth "Alas for you expounders of the Law! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered, and those who wanted to enter you have hindered."

ASV Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

DRA Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered in, and those that were entering in, you have hindered.

YLT 'Woe to you, the lawyers, because ye took away the key of the knowledge; yourselves ye did not enter; and those coming in, ye did hinder.'

Drby Woe unto you, the doctors of the law, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge; yourselves have not entered in, and those who were entering in ye have hindered.

RV Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
(Woe unto you lawyers! for ye/you_all took away the key of knowledge: ye/you_all entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye/you_all hindered. )

SLT Woe to you, skilled in the law! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye came not in yourselves, and those coming in ye hindered.

Wbstr Woe to you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye have not entered in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

KJB-1769 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
( Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye/you_all have taken away the key of knowledge: ye/you_all entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye/you_all hindered. )

KJB-1611 Woe vnto you Lawyers: for ye haue taken away the key of knowledge: ye entred not in your selues, and them that were entring in, ye [fn]hindred.
(Woe unto you Lawyers: for ye/you_all have taken away the key of knowledge: ye/you_all entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in, ye/you_all hindred.)

11:52 Or forbade

Bshps Wo vnto you lawyers: for ye haue taken away the keye of knowledge, ye entred not in your selues, and them that came in, ye forbad.
(Woe unto you lawyers: for ye/you_all have taken away the key of knowledge, ye/you_all entered not in yourselves, and them that came in, ye/you_all forbad.)

Gnva Wo be to you, Lawyers: for ye haue taken away the key of knowledge: ye entred not in your selues, and them that came in, ye forbade.
(Woe be to you, Lawyers: for ye/you_all have taken away the key of knowledge: ye/you_all entered not in yourselves, and them that came in, ye/you_all forbade. )

Cvdl Wo vnto you scrybes, for ye haue receaued ye keye of knowlege. Ye are not come in youre selues, and haue forbydden them that wolde haue bene in.
(Woe unto you scribes, for ye/you_all have received ye/you_all key of knowledge. Ye/You_all are not come in yourselves, and have forbidden them that would have been in.)

TNT Wo be to you lawears: for ye have taken awaye the keye of knowledge ye entred not in youre selves and them that came in ye forbade.
(Woe be to you lawars: for ye/you_all have taken away the key of knowledge ye/you_all entered not in your(pl) selves and them that came in ye/you_all forbade. )

Wycl Wo to you, wise men of the lawe, for ye han takun awei the keye of kunnyng; and ye yow silf entriden not, and ye han forbeden hem that entriden.
(Woe to you, wise men of the law, for ye/you_all have taken away the key of cunning; and ye/you_all yow self entered not, and ye/you_all have forbeden hem that entered.)

Luth Wehe euch Schriftgelehrten! denn ihr den Schlüssel der Erkenntnis habt. Ihr kommt nicht hinein und wehret denen, die hinein wollen.
(Woe you scribes! because/than you(pl)/their/her the key the/of_the knowledge have. You(pl) comes not into/inside and defend those, the into/inside want.)

ClVg Væ vobis, legisperitis, quia tulistis clavem scientiæ: ipsi non introistis, et eos qui introibant, prohibuistis.[fn]
(Alas/Woe to_you(pl), legisperitis, because you_tooks key of_knowledge: themselves not/no introistis, and them who/which introibant, I_forbadestis. )

11.52 Quia tulistis clavem. Clavis, humilitas Christi, quam qui habent, Scripturas intelligunt. Hanc legisperiti, nec ipsi lege et prophetis intelligunt, nec ab aliis intelligi volunt. Intrare clavem, est non esse contentum superficie litteræ sed usque ad arcana intelligenda penetrare. Vel doctor si illos quos verbo ædificat exemplo scandalizat, nec ipse regnum Dei intrat et illos qui intrare poterant excludit.

11.52 Because you_tooks key. Clavis, humility Christi, how who/which they_have, Scriptures they_understand. This legisperiti, but_not themselves lawfully and prophets they_understand, but_not away to_others to_be_understood they_want. Intrare key, it_is not/no to_be contentum superficie letters but until to secrets to_be_understood penetrare. Or doctor when/but_if those which word builds example scandalizat, but_not exactly_that/himself kingdom of_God enters and those who/which to_enter they_could excludit.

UGNT οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς, ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως; αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθατε, καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε.
(ouai humin tois nomikois, hoti aʸrate taʸn kleida taʸs gnōseōs; autoi ouk eisaʸlthate, kai tous eiserⱪomenous ekōlusate.)

SBL-GNT οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς, ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως· αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθατε καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε.
(ouai humin tois nomikois, hoti aʸrate taʸn kleida taʸs gnōseōs; autoi ouk eisaʸlthate kai tous eiserⱪomenous ekōlusate.)

RP-GNT Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς, ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως· αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθετε, καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε.
(Ouai humin tois nomikois, hoti aʸrate taʸn kleida taʸs gnōseōs; autoi ouk eisaʸlthete, kai tous eiserⱪomenous ekōlusate.)

TC-GNT Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς, ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως· αὐτοὶ οὐκ [fn]εἰσήλθετε, καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε.
(Ouai humin tois nomikois, hoti aʸrate taʸn kleida taʸs gnōseōs; autoi ouk eisaʸlthete, kai tous eiserⱪomenous ekōlusate. )

11:52 εισηλθετε ¦ εισηλθατε CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:37–54: Jesus criticized the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

In this section, a Pharisee invited Jesus to his house for a meal. The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus did not ritually wash his hands before he ate. Jesus then criticized the Pharisees because they carefully observed outward rituals but neglected true devotion to God. He specifically warned the Pharisees about three ways in which they displeased God. He then directed three additional warnings to the teachers of the law.

Some other headings for this section are:

Jesus’ Criticism of the Religious Leaders

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 23:1–36 and Mark 12:38–40.

11:52a

Woe to you experts in the law!

How bad/terrible it will be for you^(plur) experts in the law,
How sad/awful! God will severely punish you^(plur) who teach the law of Moses,

Woe: This word is the same word as in 11:43a.

to you experts in the law!: The Greek word that the BSB translates as experts in the law is the same word as in 10:25a and 11:45a. See expert in the law in the Glossary.

11:52b

For you have taken away the key to knowledge.

because you^(plur) have taken the key that would unlock the door to knowing God.
because you^(plur) have taken away from the people the way to know God.
because you^(plur) have blocked/hidden the way to know God.
because you^(plur) have hindered/prevented people from knowing God.

For: The conjunction For introduces a third reason why God would punish the experts in the law.

you have taken away the key to knowledge: This is a metaphor. It compares knowledge to a house whose door is locked. This door can only be opened by a certain key. That key represents the way to knowing God.

The Jewish religious leaders had taken this key away from the people, that is, they had prevented the people from knowing God.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

Keep the metaphor and explain that the function of the key is to unlock or open the door. For example:
You have kept the key that opens the door to the house of knowledge (GNT)
You have taken away the key to learning about God. (NCV)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
You have removed what is like a key that opens the way for people to learn about God
If the image of a key is unknown in your area, you may change the metaphor slightly. For example:
You have shut the door that leads to knowing God.
You have blocked the way for people to know God.
Translate the direct meaning. For example:
You have hindered/prevented people from knowing God.

Translate this metaphor in a way that is natural in your language.

knowledge: The word knowledge refers to knowing God. In particular, it refers to knowing how God saves people. For example:

knowledge about God (CEV)

learning about God (NCV)

11:52c

You yourselves have not entered,

You^(plur) yourselves have not gone in through that door,
Even you^(plur) do not know God,

You yourselves have not entered: Jesus here continued the metaphor of 11:52b. He said that the experts in the religious law had not entered through the door that led to knowing God. By this he meant that they themselves had never come to know God truly.

If you have dropped the figure of “entering,” you may translate this clause as:

You yourselves have never truly known God.

You yourselves: In the Greek, the word You is emphatic. English versions show this emphasis with the translation You yourselves. You should try to show this emphasis in your translation.

11:52d

and you have hindered those who were entering.”

and you^(plur) have also stopped other people who were trying to enter.”
and you^(plur) have prevented/stopped people who truly wanted to know him so that they were not able to know him.”

you have hindered those who were entering: In 11:52d the metaphor continues. Jesus said that the law experts had hindered the people who were trying to enter the door that led to knowing God. In other words, they were making it harder for other people to know God.

hindered: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as hindered also means to “prevent” or “stop.”

those who were entering: The verb phrase those who were entering indicates that people “wanted to get in,” or they were “trying to get in.” For example:

those who wanted to enter (GW)

If you have dropped the figure of “entering,” you may translate this clause as:

those who truly wanted to know him

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

τοῖς νομικοῖς

¬the lawyers

See how you translated lawyers in [11:45](../11/45.md). Alternate translation: [experts in the Jewish law]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως

˱you_all˲_took_away (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὐαί ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς ὅτι ἤρατε τήν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως αὐτοί οὐκ εἰσήλθατε καί τούς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε)

Jesus speaks about the knowledge of God’s truth as if it were in a building whose door was locked, and about proper teaching as if it were a key that could unlock that door. Alternate translation: [you prevent people from knowing God’s truth]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τὴν κλεῖδα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὐαί ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς ὅτι ἤρατε τήν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως αὐτοί οὐκ εἰσήλθατε καί τούς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε)

A key is a small metal device that opens a lock that is used to keep things like a door, a box, or a drawer closed. If your readers would not know what a key is, you could use the name of a comparable device in your culture.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθατε, καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε

Jesus continues the metaphor by saying that these experts in the law have not gone into the building where they could learn God’s truth, and they have not given others the key that would allow them to unlock the door and go inside to learn. Alternate translation: [you do not know God’s truth yourselves, and you are preventing others from knowing it as well]

Parallel LUKE 11:52

Section 11:37–54: Jesus criticized the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

11:52a

11:52b

11:52c

11:52d