5:35a

or by the earth: The word or introduces the second item in the list of examples. It may be more natural in your language to repeat some of the words. For example:

or ⌊do not make an oath⌋ using the word “earth”

for: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the basis for the command not to swear by earth.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Do not swear by earth, because it is God’s footstool
-or-
The earth is God’s footstool, so don’t swear by the earth. (Contemporary English Version)

it is His footstool: A footstool is a small, low seat on which someone rests his feet while sitting down. Here the word footstool represents the earth as the place where God the King figuratively rests his feet while he is sitting on his heavenly throne. Using the earth as God’s footstool implies that he subjects the “earth” and all on it to his will.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

the resting place for his feet (Good News Translation)
-or-
the place where he stretches out his legs

In some language, it may be more natural to translate non-figuratively. For example:

because the earth belongs to God (New Century Version)
-or-
because it is under God’s control

5:35b

or by Jerusalem: The word or introduces the third of the list of examples. It may be more natural in your language to repeat some of the words. For example:

or ⌊do not make an oath⌋ using the word “Jerusalem”

for: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the basis for the command not to swear by Jerusalem.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Do not swear by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King
-or-
Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don’t swear by it. (Contemporary English Version)

it is the city of the great King: The phrase the great King refers to God. God’s temple was in the city of Jerusalem. So God has a special relationship with Jerusalem.

If people in your area will not understand that the words the great King refer to God, you may want to make that clear. For example:

for it is the city of ⌊God,⌋ the Great King

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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