13:16a
Truly, truly, I tell you: This clause introduces an important statement and means “pay attention to what I will now say.” See how you translated this phrase in 5:19 and 10:1. For example:
I tell you the truth (New International Version)
13:16b
no servant is greater than his master: This is a general truth. Jesus used this obvious truth to say “you should be willing to do what I did.” If their master could be humble and serve others, then they (his servants) should be willing to do the same.
Although the Greek and Berean Standard Bible use a singular subject, in some languages it may be more natural to use a plural subject. For example:
servants are not greater than their master (New Revised Standard Version)
In some languages it is more natural to express this negative idea with a positive. For example:
a servant’s master is more important than the servant
servant…master: The word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as servant refers to low level workers, including slaves. For example:
Slaves…owners (God’s Word)
-or-
worker…boss
13:16c
nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him: This clause is another general truth meaning the same thing as “no servant is greater than his master.” It indicates that Jesus’ disciples should be willing to serve others as he did. They were not greater that he was.
The Greek again uses a singular subject like the Berean Standard Bible.
Use either a singular or a plural subject, whichever is more natural in your language to express a general truth.
In some languages it is more natural to express this negative clause in a positive way. For example:
The person who sends a messenger is more important than the messenger himself is.
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