Paragraph 10:26–31
10:26a
So: Verse 10:26 is the conclusion to the previous verses. The Greek introduces this conclusion with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So.
Here is another way to translate this conjunction:
Therefore
do not be afraid of them: This is a command. Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid of the people who will persecute them.
Here are some other ways to translate this command:
have no fear of them (English Standard Version)
-or-
don’t be afraid of those who threaten you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
do not be afraid of those ⌊who persecute you⌋
10:26b–c
For: Verse 10:26b–c gives the basis for the command in (10:26a). Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid of their persecutors, for/because God will expose what these people have said and done.
Here are some other ways to introduce this basis:
because
-or-
⌊I say this⌋ because
Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it may also not be necessary to translate it.
there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known: Before translating this part of the verse, there are two issues to consider:
Issue 1: Interpretation
There are two ways to interpret this clause:
(1) The word nothing means no sins. According to this interpretation, this part of 10:26 goes together with the preceding verses. People who persecute Jesus and his disciples make their plans in secret. Their sins are now a secret. But on judgment day, God will reveal them.
(2) The word nothing means no part of the gospel. According to this interpretation, this part of 10:26 goes together with the following verse. There Jesus instructed his disciples to proclaim from the rooftops what he had told them in secret.
English versions are ambiguous and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. If you cannot translate ambiguously, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation better fits with the way that 10:26b–c is connected with 10:26a. Jesus instructed his disciples not to fear those who persecute them, for/because one day God will reveal their sins and judge them.
Issue 2: Parallelism
Verse 10:26b–c is a Hebrew form of poetry called a parallelism. In a parallelism, an idea is repeated. Often, the idea is repeated to emphasize it. In this particular parallelism, the ideas in 10:26b are repeated in 10:26c.
The parallel parts in 10:26b–c that are similar in meaning are shown here:
26b
there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed,
26cand nothing hidden that will not be made known
In some languages, people will think that the parallel parts in 10:26b–c describe different events. In other words, they will think that “concealed” and “hidden” describe different events, and “that will not be disclosed” and “that will not be made known” also describe different events.
If that is true in your language, you should:
• Indicate that both clauses refer to the same thing. For example:
26bnothing is concealed that will not be disclosed,
26c
⌊I repeat,⌋ nothing ⌊is⌋ hidden that will not be made known
• Combine the parallel parts and emphasize it in some way. For example:
certainly nothing is covered/hidden that will not be made known
10:26b
there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed: As mentioned above, the word nothing refers to people’s sins. These sins may be a secret today, but one day they will be shown.
This clause is passive. It also has two negatives: nothing and not. Here are some other ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
nothing is now covered that will not be uncovered
-or-
no ⌊sin⌋ is now covered that will not be shown
• Use a passive verb and no negatives. For example:
Whatever is now covered up will be uncovered (Good News Translation)
-or-
whatever ⌊sin/behavior⌋ that is now covered will be revealed
• Use an active verb with both negatives. For example:
nothing is covered that ⌊God⌋ will not reveal
-or-
no ⌊sin⌋ is now covered/hidden that God will not reveal
• Use an active verb and no negatives. For example:
⌊God⌋ will show whatever is now covered
-or-
⌊God⌋ will expose all ⌊sin/behavior⌋ that ⌊people⌋ have covered/hidden.
10:26c
and: In this context, the word and indicates that 10:26b and 10:26c have the same meaning.
Here are some other ways to indicate this:
• Use another conjunction. For example:
or (English Standard Version)
• Introduce 10:26c with a phrase that indicates that the meaning is the same as 10:26b. For example:
I repeat
• Put one clause immediately after the other with no connector or introductory phrase. For example:
Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. (God’s Word)
nothing hidden that will not be made known: As mentioned above, this part of the clause means the same thing as 10:26b. In Jewish culture, it was common to repeat an idea with words of similar meaning to emphasize that idea.
Some words from the previous part of the clause are implied but not repeated here. In some languages, it may be more natural to include some of those words. For example:
⌊There is⌋ nothing hidden that will not be made known.
Like in 10:26b, the verb in 10:26c is passive. This part of the clause also has two negatives: nothing and not. Here are some other ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
nothing is secret that will not be made known (NET Bible)
-or-
there is no secret ⌊sin⌋ that will not be made known
• Use a passive verb and no negatives. For example:
everything now hidden will be made clear (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
every ⌊sin⌋ now hidden will be made known
• Use an active verb with both negatives. For example:
nothing is secret that ⌊God⌋ will not make known
-or-
there is no secret ⌊sin⌋ that ⌊God⌋ will not make known
• Use an active verb and no negatives. For example:
⌊God⌋ will uncover every secret
-or-
⌊God⌋ will make known all ⌊sin/behavior⌋ that ⌊people⌋ have hidden.
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