27-00

The Story of the Good Samaritan

This title can also be translated as: “About how a good man from Samaria helped a Jewish man” or “What happened when a good man from Samaria helped a Jewish man?”

27-01

One day

This phrase introduces an event that happened in the past, but does not state the specific time. Many languages have a similar way to begin telling a true story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])

an expert in the Jewish law

This man was someone who studied and taught the laws God had given the Israelites, as well as other Jewish laws. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

he said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “called Jesus Teacher and asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

to inherit eternal life

This could mean to have life with God forever or so that God will give me life with him forever or to receive eternal life from God. The law expert was asking how he could be worthy to receive eternal life as an inheritance from God the Father.

eternal life

This refers to life forever with God after the mortal body dies. See the key term page for eternal life.

Jesus answered, “What is written in God’s law?”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus asked him what was written in God’s law.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

What is written in God’s law?

This could mean What is written in God’s law about this? Jesus asked this question because he wanted the man to think about what God’s law really teaches.

What is written

This can be stated in active form: “What did God say” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])

27-02

The man said, “It says, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.’”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “The man said that we must love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. And love our neighbor as ourself.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

Love the Lord your God

You may choose to say: “We must love the Lord our God.” Make sure it does not sound like the man is commanding Jesus. Rather, he is quoting what God’s law commands people to do.

with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind

This could mean with your whole self or with every part of yourself. In some languages this might be translated as: “with all your liver, breath, strength, and thoughts.” The focus is not on each of these parts, but on all of us. Use the concepts in your language that make up the whole person.

heart

The heart refers to the part of a person that has desires and emotions.

soul

The soul refers to the nonphysical, spiritual part of a person.

strength

Strength refers to the physical body and all of its abilities.

mind

The mind refers to the part of a person that thinks, plans, and has ideas.

neighbor

Although the word neighbor normally refers to a person who lives near us,the Jews applied the term to everyone except close relatives, foreigners, and enemies.

love your neighbor as yourself

This is an ellipse. The missing information can be stated: “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-ellipsis/01.md]])

as yourself

That is, he should love his neighbor to the same extent that he loves himself. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-simile/01.md]])

Jesus answered, “You are correct! If you do this, you will have eternal life.”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus told him that he was correct! If he did this, he would have eternal life.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

you will have eternal life

This can be stated in active form: “God will give you eternal life.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])

27-03

the law expert

This could mean the expert in the Jewish law. See how you translated this term in 27:01.

he asked Jesus, “Well then, who is my neighbor?”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “he asked Jesus who was his neighbor.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

who is my neighbor?

This could also be translated as: “what do you mean by ‘neighbor’?” or “which people are my neighbors?” He knew that he did not love everyone, and was asking which people he needed to love. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])

27-04

General Information

The cloud-like frame around this picture indicates that Jesus is telling a story, and not necessarily explaining a historical event.

the law expert

See how you translated this term in 27:01.

a story

The story is in the form of a parable. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-parables/01.md]])

There was a Jewish man

This introduces a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

from Jerusalem to Jericho

In some languages you could translate this as: “from the city of Jerusalem to the city of Jericho” or “from Jerusalem City to Jericho City.”

27-05

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

everything he had

This could mean everything he had with him, including the clothes he was wearing.

27-06

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

Soon after that, a Jewish priest

This introduces a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

happened to walk down

This could mean happened to be traveling along. For some languages, it may be necessary to use a word like travel rather than walk since the priest was not just walking on the road but was traveling to get to another city.

kept on going

This could mean continued traveling down the road.

He completely ignored that man

This was surprising because the priests were very religious, and would have been expected to help their fellow Jew. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])

ignored that man

This could mean did not help that man or showed no concern for that man.

27-07

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

Not long after that, a Levite

This introduces a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

came down the road

This could mean was traveling down that same road.

(Levites were a tribe of Jews who helped the priests at the Temple.)

This is background information to tell the reader who the Levites were. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

Levites were a tribe of Jews

This could mean Levites were from the Israelite tribe of Levi or Levites were from the Israelite clan of Levi.

He also ignored that man

This was surprising because the Levites served in the Temple, and would have been expected to help their fellow Jew. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])

ignored

This could mean did not help.

27-08

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

The next person to walk down that road was a man from Samaria

This introduces a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

to walk down

This could mean to travel along. These people were traveling from one city to another. Make sure that it does not sound like they were just taking a walk.

(Samaritans and Jews hated each other.)

This is background information to tell the reader that the Samaritans and Jews were enemies. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

He saw he was Jewish, but he still had very strong compassion for him

This was surprising because the the Jews and Samaritans hated each other, so he would not have been expected to help the Jewish man. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])

27-09

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

his own donkey

Make sure it is clear that his refers to the Samaritan.

an inn by the road

This could mean a lodging place along the road. This is a place where travelers could get food and stay overnight.

27-10

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

to continue his journey

This could be translated as: “to continue traveling toward his destination.”

in charge of

This could mean who managed. It could be that this person also owned this lodging place.

He said to him, ‘Take care of this man. If you spend any more money than this, I will repay those expenses when I return.’

This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “He told him to take care of the man, and if he spent any more money than this, he would repay those expenses when he returned.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])

Take care of this man

In order for it to be clear that this was a polite request, not an order, for some languages, it may be preferable to say: “Please take care of this man.”

will repay those expenses

This could also be translated as: “will repay you” or “will pay back that money” or “will repay it.”

27-11

Jesus asked the law expert, “What do you think? Which one of the three men was a neighbor to the man who was robbed and beaten?”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus asked the law expert which of the three men he thought was a neighbor to the man who was robbed and beaten.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

the law expert

This could mean the expert in the Jewish law. See how you translated this term in 27:01.

the three men

The three men were the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan.

was a neighbor

This can also be translated as: “behaved as a neighbor” or “was a friend” or “acted in a loving way.” See how you translated neighbor in 27:02 and 27:03.

a neighbor

Jesus is using the word neighbor in a broader sense than in 27:02. Neighbor here refers to anyone that we meet who needs our help.

He replied, “The one who was merciful to him.”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “He replied that it was the one who was merciful to him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

Jesus told him, “You go and do the same.”

This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus told him to go and to do the same.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

You go and do

This could mean You, too, should go and do or Now you must do. Jesus was commanding the law expert to do as the Samaritan did.

do the same

This could mean love others, even your enemies. Make sure it does not sound like “the same” is only referring to helping a wounded man. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-ellipsis/01.md]])

A Bible story from

These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.