5:13a

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. Other English translations do not translate this conjunction. Introduce what Jesus did in response to the man’s request in a natural way in your language. You may state directly what Jesus did without using a conjunction, or you may use a conjunction such as “then.” For example:

Then Jesus stretched out his hand (New Revised Standard Version)

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man: In some languages, it may sound unnatural to say “his hand” in the phrase reached out His hand and touched the man. This is because “his hand” is implied in the verb touched. If this is true in your language, use a natural way to express the action in your language. Some ways to translate this are:

Jesus reached out and touched him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Jesus put his hand on him (Contemporary English Version)

5:13b

“I am willing,” He said: In Greek, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He said occurs at the beginning Jesus’ words. The Berean Standard Bible has placed it in the middle of Jesus’ words. Place the phrase where it is most natural in your language. For example:

Jesus reached out, touched him, and said (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus stretched out his hand, placed it on the leper, saying (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

I am willing: The phrase I am willing here means “I am willing to do as you ask” or “I do want to heal you.”

5:13c

Be clean!: The command Be clean! indicates here that Jesus was healing the man and that he was also making him ritually pure. In some languages, it may not be natural to use a command to express this idea. It may be necessary to indicate that Jesus himself was doing these actions. For example:

You are now pure. I heal you.
-or-
I take away your leprosy and make you ritually clean.
-or-
Now you are well. (Contemporary English Version)

If you have healers in your culture, they may use a special expression to pronounce someone well. Consider whether an expression like that would be appropriate for Jesus to say here.

clean: The word here for clean is the same word as in the clause “you can make me clean” at 5:12d. See the note there.

5:13d

And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces what happened when Jesus spoke to the man. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. Connect this part of the verse to 5:13c in a natural way in your language.

the leprosy left him: In some languages, it may not be possible to speak of leprosy leaving someone. If that is true in your language, use a natural way to express that the man no longer had leprosy. For example:

his skin disease disappeared and he was well again
-or-
he was completely healed/cured of his leprosy

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