7:22a

Many will say to Me: The word Many refers to people. For example:

many people will say to me (New Century Version)

on that day: The phrase on that day refers to the future time when God will judge all people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

On the day of judgment (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
At the time ⌊when God⌋ judges ⌊all people⌋

7:22b–c

‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the fact/claim that these people prophesied, drove out demons, and performed many miracles.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, and in your name we drove out demons and performed many miracles. Isn’t that so?
-or-
Lord, Lord, don’t you remember? We prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name, and we performed many miracles in your name.

• As a statement. For example:

Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles! (Good News Translation)

In Greek, the phrase in Your name appears before each of the three verbs “prophesy,” “drive out,” and “perform.” Some ways to translate it are:

Lord, Lord, in your name did we not prophesy, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?
-or-
Lord, Lord, in your name did we not prophesy, cast out demons, and do many mighty works?

7:22b

Lord, Lord: As in 7:21a, the double address of Lord, Lord probably indicates honor, respect, and deep emotion. The speakers were insisting that Jesus is their Lord.

If you translated this double address of Lord, Lord in 7:21a in another way, you will want to do the same here.

did we not prophesy: This word prophesy means “speak a message on behalf of God.” God somehow communicates his message directly to his messenger. The messenger then speaks the message to people on behalf of God. These people were claiming to be God’s messengers.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

we spoke God’s message (Good News Translation)
-or-
we preached words from God

in Your name: Here name represents the whole person. So the phrase in Your name means “by/using your authority” or “using your power.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

with your name
-or-
by the power and authority of your name (God’s Word)
-or-
using the authority of your name
-or-
through your power

7:22c

drive out demons: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drive out demons refers to forcing demons to stop controlling people and leave.

Jewish people often spoke of evil spirits as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

sent demons away
-or-
forced out demons (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
caused demons to leave people
-or-
freed people who were controlled by an evil spirit
-or-
healed people sick with an evil spirit

demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demons refers to the same type of spirits as the Greek words that are often translated as “evil spirits” or “unclean spirits.” These evil spirits can control peoples’ actions and can make them sick.

Here are some other ways to translate demons:

• Use a word in your language that refers to a spirit that is evil and can control people. Do not use a word that refers to the spirit of a dead person.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

evil/bad spirits
-or-
spirits that do evil
-or-
spirits that oppose God

See also demon in the Glossary for more information.

7:22d

perform many miracles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as miracles can also be translated as “mighty works” (as in the English Standard Version). This word refers to events or acts that are impossible for men to do, but God can cause them to happen.

It is not clear whether these mighty works were true miracles or whether these people falsely claimed to do miracles in Jesus’ name.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

mighty works (English Standard Version)
-or-
amazing acts/deeds

-or-

surprising things

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