18:2a

Now: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces some parenthetical information. It is not a time word. English translations use parentheses or a different tense to indicate that this verse is parenthetical. Indicate that this verse gives parenthetical information in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

(Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.) (NET Bible)
-or-
Jesus had often met there with his disciples, and Judas knew where the place was. (Contemporary English Version)

Judas His betrayer: The clause His betrayer gives some information about Judas. It refers to the fact that Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, agreed to help Jesus’ enemies. He received money from them as a reward for promising to lead them to Jesus so they could arrest him. See Mark 14:10–11. See how you referred to this action in 6:64, 71; 13:2, 11, 21. Refer to this action in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Judas the betrayer
-or-
Judas, who was helping Jesus’ enemies to arrest Jesus,
-or-
Judas was the one who began to oppose Jesus.

also knew the place: Judas knew that Jesus often went with his disciples to this garden. So he knew where to lead the soldiers and police.

the place: This phrase here refers to the garden.

18:2b

because: The connector because introduces the reason why Judas knew the garden.

Jesus had often met there with His disciples: Jesus often used this garden as a meeting place. Perhaps they slept there as well. So Judas had often gone there. Here is another way to translate this clause:

many times Jesus had met there with his disciples (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus and his disciples often gathered there (God’s Word)

met: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as met is more literally “gathered.” It refers to Jesus using this place to be with his disciples. This was something he did often or regularly. Use a verb tense that refers to repeated action in the past. For example:

used to meet

with His disciples: In some languages it may be natural to indicate that Judas was one of these disciples. For example:

with him and the other disciples

General Comment on 18:2a–b

In some languages it may be natural to rearrange the information in 18:2a–b, and first say why Judas knew this place. For example:

2b Jesus had often met there with his disciples, and so 2a Judas his betrayer knew where it was.

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