2:19a

if you are convinced: The Greek is literally “having confidence.” The Berean Standard Bible supplies the phrase if you to make the connection to the “if” in 2:17 clear. Consider how to make that connection clear in your language.

a guide for the blind: This is a metaphor. A person who does not know about God and his ways is like a blind person. The Jews thought of non-Jews in that way. And they thought of themselves as those who could show non-Jews how to live in God’s ways.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to actual blind people. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. You may want to:

• Make the point of reference of the metaphor explicit in the text. For example:

⌊a religious teacher who is like⌋ a guide for the blind

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor in the text. For example:

a religious teacher to those who know nothing of God

• Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This is a metaphor. A person who does not know about God and his ways is like a blind person. Jews teaching Gentiles about God would help them “see” who God is.

2:19b

a light for those in darkness: This is also a metaphor. The meaning is similar to the “guide for the blind.” Here the phrase addresses the Jews. And they thought of themselves as those who could show non-Jews how to live in God’s ways.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to people walking in actual darkness. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. You may want to:

• Make the point of reference of the metaphor explicit in the text. For example:

⌊a religious teacher who is like⌋ a light to those who are in darkness

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor in the text. For example:

and shows God’s ways to them

• Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This is a metaphor. Jews considered Gentiles like people walking in darkness. Jews teaching them about God would help them “see” who God is.

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