10:20a
Many of them said: These words introduce the opinion of one group of listeners. This first group was opposed to Jesus.
He is demon-possessed and insane: This expression is more literally “he has a demon and is crazy.” These people rejected what Jesus said as the words of a crazy man (someone who does not think normally). They believed that one way evil spirits could affect a person was to make him mad/crazy. In some languages it is more natural to say that evil spirits caused him to be crazy. For example:
A demon has come into him and made him crazy. (New Century Version)
is demon-possessed: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as is demon-possessed indicates that the people thought that a demon controlled Jesus. A “demon” is an evil spirit. The people thought that a demon could possess (have power over) someone and control their thoughts and actions. Here are some other ways to translate this expression:
He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
A demon has come into him and made him crazy. (New Century Version)
-or-
an evil spirit has entered him and made him mad
Use an expression that is natural in your language to refer to an evil spirit controlling a person. See how you translated this expression in 7:20a and 8:48.
and insane: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek phrase literally as insane. Use an expression that is natural in your language to describe someone who is unable to think normally. This person does not know what is real and what is not real. It should be an expression that insults the person. For example:
raving mad (New International Version)
-or-
has lost his mind (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
He’s crazy! (God’s Word)
10:20b
Why would you listen to Him?: This is a rhetorical question. These people used it as a rebuke. They were scolding the other people for listening to Jesus. There are two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Why do you listen to him? (Good News Translation)
-or-
What is the use/purpose of listening to what he says anymore?
-or-
What is the point/value of listening to him?
• Use a statement. For example:
It is useless to listen to him!
-or-
Let’s not listen to him. (Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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