17:27a

God intended that they would seek Him: This phrase in Greek is literally “to seek God.” It indicates a second purpose for God to make all people (17:26a). The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase God intended that to refer back to all of 17:26a–d rather than just 17:26d. Other ways to translate this Greek phrase are:

so that they would search for God (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
His purpose was for the nations to seek after God (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God has done all this, so that we will look for him (Contemporary English Version)

they: Here the word they refers generally to people. For example:

they (Good News Translation)

seek Him: The word seek refers to looking to know God. See the examples above.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate only that God was far away. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

seek ⌊to know⌋ him

17:27b

perhaps reach out for Him and find Him: In the Greek here the tense on the verbs indicates that finding God is possible but not certain. So the Berean Standard Bible uses the word perhaps to indicate that meaning.

reach out for Him: This metaphor is like someone in the dark reaching for something that he needs. He knows it is there somewhere but cannot see it. In the same way, people believe that God exists but are uncertain as to how to find him. So they try various ways to know him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

feel their way toward him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
search all around for him (New Century Version)

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that God was physically present. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

reach for ⌊knowledge of⌋ him
-or-
reach for ⌊ways to know⌋ him

• Translate the metaphor literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This metaphor is like someone in the dark reaching for something that he needs. He knows it is there somewhere but cannot see it. In the same way, people believe that God exists but are uncertain as to how to know him. So they try various ways to do that.

find Him: This metaphor refers to beginning a relationship with God. The person can then pray to him, learn about him, and obey him.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the person physically saw God. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

find ⌊knowledge of⌋ him
-or-
find ⌊ways to interact with⌋ him

17:27c

though He is not far from each one of us: The word though indicates that God wants people to find him but they might not find him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Yet he is not far from each one of us, (Revised Standard Version)
-or-

even though he is not far from any one of us. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

He is not far from each one of us: This metaphor is like someone coming near physically so that the person searching would find him more easily. In the same way, God wants people to find him and helps those who earnestly seek him.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that God was physically close. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

he makes it easier for each one of us

You may then want to indicate the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally: “he is not far from each one of us”

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