20:12a

and she saw two angels in white: The two angels that Mary saw were inside the tomb. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

and saw two angels there dressed in white (Good News Translation)

In some languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence. For example:

And she saw two angels in white (NET Bible)

angels in white: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angels in white indicates that the angels were wearing white clothes. See also Matthew 28:3 and Mark 16:5. Translate this phrase in a way that is natural in your language. It may be natural to make some information explicit. For example:

angels in white clothes (God’s Word)
-or-
angels dressed in white (New Century Version)

angels: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angels means “messengers.” It refers here to spirit beings who serve God. Sometimes, as here, God sends angels to bring a message to human beings. Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:

messengers ⌊from God/heaven⌋
-or-

⌊good/holy⌋ spirit-beings

• Use a local term that fits the biblical meaning.

• In some areas the churches may already be using a borrowed term or a transliterated word for “angel.” Be sure that this term fits the biblical meaning. If people do not understand the right meaning from this term, you may need to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

an angelos messenger ⌊from God⌋
-or-
a good angelos spirit

See angel sense 1 in Key Biblical Terms.

in white: This phrase indicates that the angels were wearing white clothes. White clothes indicate that the angels were from heaven. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in white clothes (God’s Word)
-or-
dressed in white (Good News Translation)

In some languages it may be more natural to put this information in a separate clause. For example:

They were dressed in white (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
whose clothes were white

The text does not say what kind of white clothes the angels were wearing. Perhaps they wore long clothes like robes similar to what the Jewish people then normally wore. For example:

white ⌊robes⌋

General Comment on 20:11b–12a

In some languages it may be natural to combine the ideas of looking and seeing. See how you translated 20:5. For example:

She was still weeping, when she stooped down and saw two angels inside (Contemporary English Version)

20:12b

sitting where the body of Jesus had lain: The phrase where the body of Jesus had lain refers to a shelf at the side of the tomb. In a burial cave there was a shelf made of rock where people placed the dead body. The angels were sitting at the two ends of this shelf. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

seated where Jesus’ body had been (New International Version)
-or-
sitting there, on the place where they had put Jesus’ body

20:12c

one at the head and the other at the feet: The words head and feet refer to the places where the head and feet of Jesus’ body had earlier rested. The body itself was no longer there. It is important that your readers understand this. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

one where Jesus’ head ⌊had been⌋ , the other where Jesus’ feet ⌊had been⌋

General Comment on 20:11–12

In some languages it may be natural to translate these verses using shorter sentences. For example:

Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 20:12

In some languages it may be natural to rearrange the information in 20:12. For example:

12a–c and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain (Revised English Bible)
-or-

12a–c She saw two angels where the body of Jesus had been. They wore white clothes, and one was sitting where his head ⌊had been⌋ , and one where his feet ⌊had been⌋ .

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