6:3a

But: There is a contrast between 6:2 and 6:3. The contrast is between the actions of the hypocrites and the way that Jesus wants his followers to act. The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction But.

Here are some other ways to translate this contrast:

As for you
-or-
However, you

when you give to the needy: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as when you give to the needy uses the same words as the clause translated as “when you give to the needy” in 6:2a. The meaning is the same.

In this clause, the pronoun you is emphasized in the Greek text. If your language has a way to emphasize the pronoun you, you may want to do so here.

Here are some examples:

when you yourself give
-or-
as for you, when you give
-or-
you, when you give to the needy

6:3b

do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing: This clause is a metaphor. Doing things without letting others know is compared to not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing. One way that they are similar is that one group/side does not know what the other is doing.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
do not let one hand know what the other hand is doing

• Translate this clause as a simile and give the meaning. For example:

give privately in a way that is like your left hand not knowing what your right hand is doing
-or-
give so that even your best friend does not know what you are doing. It is like one of your hands does not know what the other hand is doing.

• Translate the meaning of this clause without the metaphor. Here are some examples:

don’t let anyone know about it (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

give in a hidden/private way so that no one will know that you gave

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