6:34

It is important to understand how the parts of this verse fit together. The main idea of the verse is that Jesus had compassion on the people (6:34b). The reason why he felt compassion is that they were like sheep without a shepherd (6:34c). The result of his compassion is that he taught them (6:34d).

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder some of the parts of this verse. See the General Comment on 6:34b–c after 6:34c for one way to do this.

6:34a

When Jesus stepped ashore: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When Jesus stepped ashore is literally “having got out.” This refers to the boat arriving at the shore and Jesus getting out of the boat. You may need to include some implied information to make this clear in your language. Here are some examples:

When Jesus landed (New International Version)
-or-
Jesus got out of the boat (Good News Bible)
-or-
The boat arrived at the shore and Jesus got out

and saw a large crowd: The people who were running there from all the nearby towns had become a large group of over five thousand people (6:44).

6:34b

He had compassion on them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had compassion means “had understanding and pity” or “felt sympathy.” Jesus understood the people and their troubles.

Here are some ways to express this:

he…felt sorry for them (God’s Word)
-or-
he felt sympathy for them

You may have an idiomatic way to translate this term. In English, some examples are:

his heart was filled with pity for them (Good News Bible)
-or-
his heart went out to them (Revised English Bible)

The noun compassion may also be translated by a verb. For example:

he cared
-or-
he pitied

See how you translated the phrase “Moved with compassion” in 1:41a.

6:34c

because: The word because introduces the reason why Jesus felt compassion on the people.

Here is another way to translate this:

The reason is, they were like sheep

Some English versions leave a specific reason word implied. For example, the God’s Word says:

They were like sheep

Introduce this reason in a way that is natural in your language.

they were like sheep without a shepherd: The clause they were like sheep without a shepherd is a figure of speech. It compares the people to sheep without a shepherd. A shepherd is someone who cares for sheep. The people were like sheep without a shepherd because they had no leaders who really cared for them.

Here are some ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Translate the figure of speech without making explicit how the people were like sheep with no shepherd. For example:

they were like sheep that had no herder/leader

• Translate the figure of speech and make explicit how the people were like sheep with no shepherd. For example:

they had no one to properly lead them and care for them, just like sheep without a shepherd/herder

In this context, the word sheep is used to describe the people, so it is possible to translate the meaning without the comparison. For example:

because they had no leader to care for them

However if possible, it is good to keep the comparison with sheep, because sheep are an important figure of speech in many places in the Bible. See the note on “shepherd” later in this part of the verse.

sheep: The word sheep refers to domestic animals that are raised for meat and for wool. In some languages there may not be a word for “sheep.” If that is true in your language, you may borrow the word for “sheep” and indicate its meaning with a general word such as “herd/flock” or “animals.” For example:

animals called sheep
-or-
herd/flock of sheep

If people are not familiar with sheep in your area, it is suggested that you insert a picture in your translation.

shepherd: As stated in the preceding notes, a shepherd is a person who takes care of sheep. If there is no word for shepherd in your language, you may be able to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

person who cares for sheep

If your language has a general word for someone who takes care of animals, you may be able to use it here. However, the word should describe a person who stays with the animals and cares for them, as biblical shepherds do. In some places a herder may take the animals to a pasture, then leave them tied there for the day. If that is true in your area, the word for that herder will not fit this context, and a descriptive phrase will be more accurate.

You may want to add a footnote in your translation to give more information about shepherds. For example:

A shepherd is someone who takes care of sheep. He leads them to water and good pastures and protects them from wild animals. Shepherds were common in Jewish culture. They were frequently used in the Bible to illustrate how God takes care of his people. For example, see Psalm 23.

General Comment on 6:34b–c

In this verse, 6:34c expresses the reason for the result in 6:34b. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of these clauses. For example:

34cThey were like sheep without a shepherd. 34bThat is why he had compassion on them.

6:34d

And He began to teach them: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And he began to teach them shows a transition in the story. Jesus and the disciples had come to rest, but instead, Jesus began to teach the people who had run to him. See how you translated the words “began to teach” in 6:2b.

many things: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as many things can have at least two meanings. English versions interpret it in two different ways here:

(1) It means many things. For example, the Good News Bible says:

So he began to teach them many things.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It means for a long while. For example, the God’s Word says:

So he spent a lot of time teaching them.

(New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), as the majority of English versions do. There is some meaning in common, since it would take time to teach many things.

In some languages it may not be natural to express the object of teach as a “thing.” If that is true in your language, you may be able to say:

he taught them much

Use an expression in your language that fits naturally with a word like “teach.”

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