Paragraph 4:23–27

4:23a

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Some English versions, such as the English Standard Version, translate it that way. The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction here, and some other versions such as the New International Version and NET Bible also do not translate it. However, since the events in this paragraph occurred after the events in 4:20–22, in some languages, it may be natural to begin this paragraph with a time word or phrase. For example:

Then he said (New Living Translation (2004))

Connect 4:23a to 4:22c in a way that is natural in your language.

Surely: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Surely means “it is sure that,” “certainly,” or “without a doubt.” Some other ways to translate this are:

I know that (New Century Version)
-or-
certainly (Contemporary English Version)

quote: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as quote is literally “say” (as in the King James Version). The word quote is the natural English expression for repeating words that someone else has already said or written.

this: In this context, the word this refers to the proverb which follows in 4:23b. It does not refer to something that came before this verse.

If the word “this” in your language refers only to something that precedes it, you should say:

the proverb
-or-
the following proverb

proverb: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as proverb refers to a saying or expression that many people have heard. The well-known saying that Jesus was referring to is in 4:23b. See also parable, Type 1, in the Glossary.

4:23b–d

Jesus gave two quotations in 4:23b–d. In 4:23b he quoted the proverb. Then in 4:23c–d he quoted the words that the people wanted to say to him about the proverb. You may want to use separate sets of quotation marks for the proverb and for what the people say about it. If you decide to do that, you should close the quote for the proverb at the end of 4:23b. Then, after a word or phrase introducing the second quotation, you can use a separate set of quotation marks in 4:23c–d. For example:

23Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24aBut I tell you the truth…” (New Living Translation (2004))

Physician, heal yourself!: The expression Physician, heal yourself was a proverb in Jesus’ time. It meant that someone who claimed to have special abilities should use them to help himself and his own people, as well as to help others. Some other ways to translate this are:

Doctor, cure yourself! (God’s Word)
-or-
Doctor, first make yourself well. (Contemporary English Version)

The people did not mean Jesus was a physician or that Jesus was sick.

Physician: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Physician refers to a doctor who heals or cures sick people.

heal: The word heal means “to cure, to make well.”

4:23c–d

Luke 4:23c–d tells why Jesus used this proverb to describe what the people of Nazareth were thinking about him. They had heard that Jesus had performed miracles in the town of Capernaum. Now they wanted Jesus to do miracles for them in Nazareth also. They thought that he ought to benefit them, the people in his own hometown.

In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit that Jesus was saying what the people thought. He was no longer quoting the proverb. One way to do this is to introduce 4:23c–d with a phrase such as:

⌊You will also say⌋
-or-
You will tell me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You want to say (New Century Version)

Another possibility is to translate 4:23c–d into indirect speech. If you do this, you can use an introductory phrase such as:

⌊You will tell me to⌋

See the General Comment on 4:23a–d at the end of 4:23d for an example of using indirect speech.

4:23c

Do here in Your hometown: The word hometown refers to the town where Jesus had lived when he was a boy. Jesus’ hometown was the town of Nazareth (4:16a).

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit that the people wanted Jesus to do some miracles. For example:

Do all the things in your hometown (God’s Word)
-or-
Do ⌊miracles⌋ here in your(sing) own town

Your hometown: In Greek, the pronoun Your is singular. In some languages, it may be more natural to make explicit that it was also the hometown of many of the people to whom Jesus was speaking. For example:

our(incl) hometown

4:23d

what we have heard that You did in Capernaum: This refers to the miracles that the people of Nazareth had heard about. Jesus knew that they wanted to see similar things. It may be necessary to make this explicit in either 4:23c or here in 4:23d. An example of making this explicit here in 4:23d is:

⌊the things/miracles⌋ we have heard that you(sing) did in Capernaum

General Comment on 4:23a–d

This verse contains a quotation within a quotation. In some languages, this may not be natural, or it may be difficult to understand. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use indirect speech here. For example:

23aJesus said to them, “I am sure that you(plur) are wanting to apply this proverb to me: 23b‘Physician, heal yourself.’ 23c⌊You(plur) are going to tell me to⌋ do here in my hometown the miracles 23dthat you(plur) heard that I did in Capernaum.”

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