2:19a

Destroy this temple: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Destroy this temple is in the form of a command. Most scholars understand it that way and many say that it is also a challenge to the Jewish leaders. The main point was that if they destroyed it, Jesus would restore it in three days.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Tear down this Temple (Good News Translation)
-or-
Go ahead and destroy this temple

Destroy: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Destroy means to ruin something by breaking it into pieces. Try to use a verb that can refer to both buildings and people. If this is not possible, use a verb that refers mainly to the destruction of buildings. For example:

Tear/Break down

this temple: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as temple refers to the sanctuary, the place where God lives in a special sense. It is a different word from that in 2:14; this is the term used for the temple building itself. See Key Biblical Terms temple A.2. Jesus used this word as a figure of speech to refer to his body. The people who heard him did not understand this, so you need to translate it literally. For example:

Jesus replied, “Tear down this temple….” (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus answered, “So destroy God’s building/house….”

2:19b

in three days: This expression here refers to the third day, the day after the next day. It was the Jewish practice to count any part of a day as a day. Jesus was killed on Friday, the first day. He remained dead on Saturday, the second day. He rose again early on Sunday, the third day. In some languages it is more natural to call Friday afternoon to Sunday morning two days, a day and a half, or a day and two nights. But the phrase three days is used often in the Scriptures, and so it is good to keep the number three. For example:

within three days (before three days pass)
-or-
on the third day

It may be helpful to include a footnote here. For example:

The Greek text more literally says “in three days.” The Jewish people counted even part of a day as a full day.

I will raise it up again: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as raise…up has two possible meanings: “restore” and “make alive.” Jesus was purposely using it in an ambiguous way that could refer both to the temple and to himself. The Jewish leaders thought that Jesus was claiming that he could rebuild the Jerusalem temple in three days. Jesus, however, was predicting that he would rise from the dead in three days. Try to find a way to say this that can have both these meanings. For example:

I will restore it.

If it is not possible to keep the meaning ambiguous, use a word that refers mainly to rebuilding buildings. For example:

I will build it again. (Good News Translation)

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