9:17a
Someone in the crowd replied: This person was somewhere in the crowd that had run to greet Jesus.
9:17b
Teacher: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Teacher was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. In some languages the appropriate way to address a religious teacher may be:
Sir Teacher
-or-
Sir
-or-
Master
Be careful not to use a term that can refer only to a school teacher.
This same word occurs in 4:38c.
I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute: It might be more natural in your language to reorder this sentence to have the background information first. For example:
My son is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. I brought him to you.
The son’s condition is also the implied reason why the man brought him to Jesus. In some languages it may be more natural to make this reason explicit. For example:
I brought my son to you, because he is possessed by an evil spirit that has made him mute.
I brought You my son: The father brought his son to Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
I brought my son to you (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I came with my son to you.
son: The word son here probably refers to a boy who was less than thirteen years old and more than three years old. If your language has a term with that meaning, you could use it here.
who has a spirit that makes him mute: This expression indicates that the spirit controlled the boy and caused him to be unable to speak.
Here are some other ways to translate this expression:
A demon keeps him from talking. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
He has an evil spirit in him that stops him from talking. (New Century Version)
has a spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has a spirit is literally “having a spirit.” This phrase indicates that an evil spirit controlled the boy’s thoughts and actions.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
has an evil spirit in him (Good News Bible)
-or-
possessed by a spirit (New International Version)
-or-
on whom an evil spirit had fastened
-or-
on whom an evil spirit was riding
Use an expression that is natural in your language to refer to an evil spirit controlling a person. A similar phrase occurs in 7:25a.
a spirit: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spirit refers to a spirit that is evil and can control people’s actions. Here the word spirit refers to the same type of spirit as the Greek terms that are often translated as “evil spirit,” “unclean spirit,” and “demon.”
Here are some other ways to translate spirit:
• Use a general term in your language that refers to a spirit that is evil and can control people.
• Use a specific term in your language that refers to a certain type of spirit. This spirit should be able to do what is described in this context. Do not use a term that refers to the spirit of a dead person.
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
an evil/bad spirit
-or-
an unclean spirit
Be sure that an expression like “unclean spirit” does not imply that the spirit is literally dirty.
See how you translated “unclean spirit” in 1:23a. See also evil spirit in the Glossary for more information.
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