Paragraph 7:21–23

7:21a

At that very hour: The phrase At that very hour probably indicates that Jesus healed many people before he answered John’s disciples. They saw Jesus heal the people before they returned to John. The term hour refers to a specific time but not to a literal period of sixty minutes. Other ways to translate this are:

at that time (Contemporary English Version, God’s Word)
-or-
at that very time (New International Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

healed many people of…evil spirits: Evil spirits controlled many of the people whom Jesus cured. The evil spirits caused many problems for those people, including sicknesses. Jesus forced the evil spirits to stop controlling the people and to leave them. When Jesus made the evil spirits leave, he also cured whatever sickness or problem that the evil spirits had caused.

Here the Greek text says that Jesus healed these people. If it is not natural in your language to speak of people being “healed from evil spirits,” you may use your typical expression for this. Use natural terms in your language to talk about people who are controlled by evil spirits and then become free from them.

many: Jesus was able to heal all of the many people who came to him. Your translation should not imply that Jesus could heal many, but not all, of these sick people.

evil spirits: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as evil spirits refers to spirits that are evil and can control people’s actions. The phrase evil spirits refers to the same type of spirit as the Greek terms that are often translated as “demons” and “unclean spirits.”

Some ways to translate evil spirits are:

• Use a general term in your language that refers to spirits that are evil and can control people. If there is one word with this meaning, you may not need a separate word like “evil.” For example:

demons

• 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:

evil/bad spirits
-or-
unclean spirits

Be sure that an expression like “unclean spirits” does not imply that the spirits are literally dirty.

See demon in the Glossary for more information.

diseases, afflictions: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as diseases and afflictions have very similar meanings. The second Greek word emphasizes the suffering of the sick people. Some ways that the second word could be translated in English include:

sicknesses (New International Version)
-or-
ailments (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
sufferings
-or-
were in pain

In some languages, it is not natural to use two different words to describe these sicknesses and painful health problems. If this is true in your language, you can use one word or phrase. For example:

sicknesses
-or-
various illnesses

7:21b

He gave sight to many who were blind: The phrase gave sight to many who were blind means “made many blind people able to see.” Jesus cured people from blindness.

He gave: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gave comes from the same root as the word “grace.” It means to kindly give something to someone or to give something as a gift. For example:

gave the gift of sight to many who were blind (New Jerusalem Bible)

In this context this expression is an idiom. Use a natural way in your language to describe causing blind people to be able to see. For example:

healed many who were blind
-or-
kindly gave sight/seeing to many who were blind
-or-
caused many blind people to see

See grace, Meaning 5, in the Glossary for more information.

many who were blind: Jesus was able to cure every blind person who came to him. Your translation should not suggest that Jesus was able to cure many, but not all, of the blind people.

General Comment on 7:21a–b

In some languages one verb such as “healed” can be used with all the problems mentioned in 7:21. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use this verb and mention the problems in a list. For example:

Jesus healed/cured many people who were sick or suffering, who had evil spirits, or who could not see.

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