7:25a
The rain fell: In this context, the clause The rain fell refers to a heavy rain. It is the type of rain that could damage a house.
the torrents raged: The expression the torrents raged refers to so much water in the rivers that the water overflows the banks of the rivers.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
the streams rose (New International Version)
-or-
the rivers flooded over (Good News Translation)
7:25b
the winds blew: The phrase the winds blew means that they blew strongly. They were the type of winds that could damage a house.
The word for winds is plural in Greek. But in some languages, it is more natural to translate this as a singular noun and verb. For example:
the wind blew
-or-
a strong wind came
beat against that house: The words beat against that house refer to another thing that the winds did.
In some languages, the verb “beat” is something that only a human, animal, or supernatural spirit could do. If that is true in your language, then you may want to use a different word. For example:
the wind blew hard against that house (Good News Translation)
7:25c
yet it did not fall: The verb fall here means “fall down,” or “collapse.” In spite of the rain, flood, and wind, the house was not ruined.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
did not fall down/over
-or-
did not collapse
-or-
was not destroyed
because its foundation was on the rock: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was on the rock means “was firmly established” or “was built.” This verb refers to the base or lowest part of the house being placed on bedrock. So the house’s foundation was strong.
The clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
it was built on solid rock (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
it was built strongly
• Use an active verb. It was the wise man who built his house on the rock. For example:
he built it on the rock
-or-
he built it strongly
• Change the verb to a noun. For example:
it had its foundation on the rock (New International Version)
rock: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rock means “bedrock.” It does not refer to loose stones on top of the ground. It refers to a solid rock mass or layer under the surface of the ground.
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