4:4a
But: There is a contrast between 4:3 and 4:4. The contrast is between the devil’s desire and Jesus’ desire. Jesus refused to do what the devil wanted him to do. Some English versions indicate this contrast with the word “but.”
Here are some other ways to translate this contrast:
However
-or-
Instead
-or-
But instead ⌊Jesus refused⌋
Jesus answered: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as answered here means “replied” or “responded.” Jesus was not answering a question. He was responding to what the devil was suggesting.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
he replied (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Jesus responded by saying
It is written: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as It is written introduces words from the Hebrew Scriptures.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
The scripture says (Good News Translation)
-or-
It is written ⌊in the Scriptures⌋ ⌊that God said⌋
4:4b–c
In 4:4b–c, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. That passage teaches about true life. A person needs physical food, but for a complete life, he also must depend on God and obey all that he tells him to do.
4:4b
Man shall not live on bread alone: Jesus was saying that bread (food) alone does not give true life. There is something more important than food.
Be careful not to translate this clause in a way that implies that Jesus was saying that people need a variety of foods in addition to bread. He was not saying that bread is not nutritious enough to sustain life. He was saying that food alone does not give true life.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
A person does not live by eating only bread (New Century Version)
-or-
No one can live only on food. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
It takes more than bread for man to live.
-or-
Food by itself is not enough to give people ⌊true⌋ life.
Man: The word Man here means a human being. It refers to both males and females.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Human beings (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
People (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
A person (New Century Version)
bread: In this context bread represents food in general. This is the same word as in 4:3c.
4:4c
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates a strong contrast. The contrast is between what man cannot live on and what he can live on.
Here are some other ways to translate this contrast:
instead
-or-
rather
on every word that comes from the mouth of God: There is some implied information here. If the implicit information is included, it will say:
⌊he will live⌋ by/on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Jesus meant that obeying God is more important than eating food. Jesus implied here that he would be disobeying God if he turned the stones into bread and ate it.
The phrase every word that comes from the mouth of God is a figure of speech. It refers to the words that God speaks.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
every word that God speaks (Good News Translation)
-or-
by everything God says (New Century Version)
-or-
what God commands
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