17:21a

Nor will people say: The phrase Nor will people say is a negative statement that is connected to the negative statement in 17:20d. People will not observe the kingdom coming (17:20d), and they will also not speak of it being “here” or “there” (17:21a). Another way to translate the statement is:

also, people will not say

This statement does not literally indicate that no one will say the words in this verse. People may say those things, but they will not be able to say them truthfully. No one will know exactly where the kingdom of God will begin.

‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’: The quotation ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is’ is more literally “‘Look, here’ or, ‘there.’” For example:

‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ (Good News Translation)

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Look is the same word that is often translated as “behold.” It is something that people might say if they were pointing to the kingdom of God or to the place where it came or began.

The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word it to refer back to the kingdom of God (17:20). People will not say that the kingdom of God had come here or There. Use a natural way in your language to point out something that is outstanding and significant.

In some languages it may be more natural to use indirect speech and mention the kingdom of God explicitly: For example:

that the kingdom of God is here or it is there
-or-
that God has begun his reign here, or there is the place where he has begun his reign

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of here and There. For example:

“Look, there it is!” or “Look, here it is!”

You may use a natural order for these words in your language. A similar use of these words occurs in 17:23, where the order is “there” and “here.” Use a natural order in your language for both verses.

17:21b

For: The word For introduces the reason for what Jesus said in 17:20d–21a. People cannot observe the beginning of the kingdom or say “Here it is,” For the kingdom of God is among them. Express this reason in a natural way in your language.

In Greek this part of the verse begins with a word that many English versions translate as “behold.” The word “behold” calls attention to the following statement. It often indicates that the statement is surprising or unexpected. For example:

for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you (Revised Standard Version)

Consider whether you have a similar way in your language to call attention to this statement.

the kingdom of God is in your midst: The pronoun your is plural. Scholars have interpreted the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the kingdom of God is in your midst in two ways:

(1) It means that the kingdom of God is among you. It refers to the fact that Jesus, the Messiah King, was with them. Here is another way to translate this:

the kingdom of God is among you (Revised English Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011), Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

(2) It means that the kingdom of God is within you, that is, in your hearts and minds. Here is another way to translate this:

the Kingdom of God is within you (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New International Version, King James Version, God’s Word, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the view of the majority of commentators. God was already ruling and caring for his people through Jesus. He was already defeating Satan by curing sick people and forgiving sinful people. For more information, see kingdom of God, Context 3 in the Glossary.

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