10:10a
When they were back inside the house: The phrase When they were back inside the house refers to sometime after the conversation in 10:1–9. It probably refers to later that day when Jesus and the disciples were in a house together away from the crowds and the Pharisees.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Later, in the house (New Century Version)
-or-
Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house (New Living Translation)
back: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as back is more literally “again.” There are two ways to interpret this word:
(1) It goes with 10:10b and refers to the disciples again asking Jesus about divorce. For example, the New Century Version says:
his followers asked Jesus again about the question of divorce
(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, English Standard Version)
(2) It goes with 10:10a and refers to Jesus and his disciples being in the house again. For example, the NET Bible says:
In the house once again
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). However, if a major language version in your area follows interpretation (2), you may follow that. Both interpretations are well supported.
The Pharisees had asked Jesus about divorce. Here the disciples also asked about divorce. The word again does not mean that the disciples had previously asked Jesus about divorce. The disciples wanted to know more about his teaching in 10:1–9.
Here are some other ways to translate the word again:
the disciples also asked Jesus about this
-or-
the disciples asked Jesus more about this
the house: The words the house do not refer to any particular house that has been mentioned before. It may be more natural in your language to use an expression that does not refer to a particular house. For example:
a house
-or-
indoors (Revised English Bible)
10:10b
the disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples means “learners” who are in a relationship with a teacher. The learners commit themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example. In the New Testament disciples often lived with their teacher and followed him wherever he went.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
students/learners
-or-
apprentices
-or-
followers
See how you translated this term at 2:15b. See also disciple in the Glossary for more information.
asked Jesus: The Greek form of the verb asked here probably indicates that several disciples asked Jesus questions.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
the disciples were asking him further about that teaching
-or-
the disciples began questioning Him about this again (New American Standard Bible)
about this matter: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as about this matter refers to the issue of divorce.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
about this issue
-or-
about what he had said (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
about the question of divorce (New Century Version)
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