6:8a

He instructed them: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He instructed them is literally “He ordered them” (as in the New Revised Standard Version). The Contemporary English Version has another way to translate this:

He told them

General Comment on 6:7–8a

Jesus gave his twelve disciples instructions before he sent them out (6:7b). You may want to change the order of 6:7a–c so that the events are in the order in which they occurred. If that is true, here is one way you could connect 6:7a–c with 6:8a:

7aHe called the twelve to come to him 7cand gave them authority over evil spirits. 7bThen he sent them out in groups of two 8awith these instructions: 8bTake…

6:8b

to take nothing but: The expression nothing but can also be translated as “only.” For example:

Take only

The twelve disciples were to take very little with them when they went to the villages.

a staff: The word staff refers to a stick which a person could use to help him walk in difficult places. He also used it to protect himself against animals and snakes. The Good News Bible has another way to say this:

a walking stick

for the journey: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for the journey is literally “on the road.” This implies that they would be traveling. This phrase makes it clear that Jesus “sent them out” (6:7b) to travel a distance from where they were. In 6:10 it becomes clear that the disciples would need a place to stay (sleep, eat) in the villages to which Jesus sent them. This could be because the villages were far away, or because they stayed there for a long time.

The New Century Version has another way to say this:

for your trip

6:8c

no bread, no bag, no money in their belts: It may be necessary to repeat the verb “take” (6:8b) here. For example:

Take no bread…
-or-
But do not take bread or…

bread: The word bread refers to the main food of the Jewish people. If the people for whom you are translating do not eat bread, you could translate this as “food” (as in the Contemporary English Version).

bag: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bag could mean either of two things:

(a) A traveler’s bag or sack. Such a bag was used to carry things that people needed on a trip.

(b) A beggar’s bag. This kind of bag was used to carry food or money that people gave to beggars.

Many English versions use a general word, and it is recommended that you also do this. If there is no general word for bag, choose something close to meaning (a).

money in their belts: Jews typically carried their money in cloth belts that they wrapped around their waist. Some ways to translate this are:

• Translate the Greek literally. You can do this if people in your area will understand the custom of carrying money in belts.

• Translate in a more general way. You can do this if people in your area will think it odd to carry money in belts. For example, the New Living Translation says:

no money

• Use the common method of carrying money in your area. For example, the Good News Bible says:

no money in your pockets

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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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