| The Hebrew Synoptic Gospels |
| Luke 9: 51 |
The Hebrew language has many idioms which use parts of the body in them. Using"face" is notably common. "To set one's face" simply means "to turn in the direction of." Theemphasis on resoluteness in some modern versions gives the impression that Jesus had not madeup his mind until then. A better translation of the original Hebrew would have been "..., heheaded for Jerusalem."
| AAT | ..., He showed He was determined to go to Jerusalem. |
| CEV | ..., he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. |
| CJB | ..., he made his decision to set out for Yerushalayim. |
| EBR | ...//even he himself// set /his face/ to be journeying unto Jerusalem; ... . Footnote: The recurrence of Luke's narrative to the Lord's progress towardsJerusalem is most impressive: 9:53, 57; 10:1, 38; 13:32, 33; 14:25; 18:31; 19:11, 28. |
| LB | ..., he moved steadily onward towards Jerusalem with an iron will. |
| NAB | ..., he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, ... . |
| NEB | ..., he set his face resolutely towards Jerusalem, ... . |
| NET | ..., He showed that He was determined to go to Jerusalem. |
| NIV | ..., Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. |
| NLV | He turned toward Jerusalem and was sure that nothing would stop Him from going. |
| PRS | ..., he set his face firmly towards Jerusalem, ... . |
| REB | ..., he set his face resolutely towards Jerusalem, ... . |
| SNB | ..., even He Himself set His face to be journeying unto Jerusalem; ... . |
| TEV | ..., he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem. |
| TM | ..., he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. |
| WET | ..., that He himself set His face steadfastly to be proceeding to Jerusalem. |
| WNT | ..., He firmly set His face to continue His journey to Jerusalem; ... . |
| YLR | ..., that he fixed his face to go on to Jerusalem, ... . |
Several versions bring the idiom directly over from the Hebrew to the English.The last minute decision, along with the resoluteness, is common in a number of them. Theauthors do not agree with this interpretation. The idea of not really wanting to do something,but being willing to do it, also appears in Luke 12:50 and Luke 22:42. However, in the lattertwo cases, there does not seem to have been a last minute decision as some versions imply inthe quoted passage.