11:10a
This is the one about whom it is written: This clause refers to John the Baptist. He is the person about whom the following clauses (11:10b–c) are written.
The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it is written is passive. God told the prophet Malachi about John, and Malachi wrote down God’s words. He did this four hundred years before the time of John.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
⌊John⌋ is the person about whom it is written:
-or-
• Use an active verb. For example:
This is the one about whom ⌊the prophet⌋ wrote ⌊when God said⌋
-or-
⌊John⌋ is the person whom ⌊the prophet⌋ wrote about ⌊long ago⌋
11:10b–c
The words of 11:10b–c refer to the prophecy in Malachi 3:1. Many years before John the Baptist was born, Malachi wrote down the prophecy that God told him. John the Baptist fulfilled that prophecy.
11:10b
Behold: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Behold indicates that the speaker will say something important or surprising, and he wants people to listen carefully to it. If you have a word in your language that emphasizes the importance of the words that follow, you can use it here. Here are some examples:
Listen!
-or-
Pay attention!
-or-
This is important!
-or-
Take note of this!
Many English versions do not translate this word.
I will send My messenger ahead of You: In many cultures at that time, a king would choose a person to go as his messenger to tell people that he was coming. The messenger would tell the people to prepare for the king’s coming.
In this context, the pronouns I and My refer to God. The pronoun You refers to the Christ/Messiah. God indicated that he would send a messenger to tell people to prepare for the Christ/Messiah who was coming. Jesus implied that John was that messenger.
ahead of You: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as ahead of You means “before you.” In this context, this phrase may indicate either or both of the following options:
(a) I will send my messenger before ⌊I send⌋ you.
(b) I will send my messenger to go in front of you.
In some languages there may be a natural way to translate this clause so that both meanings are possible. If you must choose one of these meanings, choose option (a).
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
before your face (English Standard Version)
-or-
to go ahead of you
-or-
to go ahead of where you go
11:10c
who will prepare Your way before You: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, preparing people’s hearts for the coming of the Messiah is compared to preparing a road for the coming of the king. (This metaphor is also used in Mark 1:2–3, Luke 3:4–6, and Luke 7:27.)
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
and he will prepare your way before you (Revised English Bible)
-or-
to open the way for you (Good News Translation)
-or-
he will repair the road before you come
• Put the meaning of the metaphor in a footnote. For example, here is a sample footnote:
These words mean that John will prepare people’s hearts for the coming of the Christ/Messiah.
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
He will ⌊prepare people’s hearts⌋ for your coming ⌊like a person⌋ prepares the road ⌊before a king comes⌋.
• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
to tell people to prepare themselves for your coming
-or-
get the people ready to accept/receive you
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