12:40a
For: Verse 12:40 explains what “the sign of the prophet Jonah” (12:39b) is. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For. Here this word does not mean “because.” It does not introduce a reason.
Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here either. In other languages, there may be other ways to introduce an explanation. For example:
In other words
-or-
What I mean is
-or-
Let me explain
as: These words introduce a comparison. Here, 12:40a is compared with 12:40b.
Here are some other ways to introduce this comparison:
just as (English Standard Version)
-or-
In the same way that (Good News Translation)
In some languages, it is natural to mark only the second clause of a comparison, not the first clause. For example:
aJonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. bIn the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. (New Century Version)
Jonah was three days and three nights: The phrase three days and three nights refers to three full days in a row: a day and a night, a day and a night, and a day and a night.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
three days and nights (Good News Translation)
-or-
three full days
-or-
three whole days
in the belly of the great fish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as great fish refers to any very large creature that lives in the sea. It was large enough that it swallowed Jonah whole.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in the stomach of a large fish
-or-
inside a huge fish
12:40b
so: This word indicates that 12:40b is the second part of a comparison. As mentioned in the note above, some languages mark only the second part of a comparison. For example:
aJonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. bIn the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. (New Century Version)
the Son of Man: Here Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. In some languages, it may be necessary to add the pronoun “I” to make it clear that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:
⌊I,⌋ the Son of Man
This phrase also occurs in 12:32a. You should translate it here as you did there. For help in translating this phrase, see the note under 8:20b.
in the heart of the earth: This phrase is a poetic way of saying “in a grave.” Jesus was referring to the time when he would be dead and buried.
This phrase is parallel to the phrase “in the belly of the great fish” in 12:40a. In some languages, it may be possible to keep this poetic structure. For example:
in the belly of a big fish…in the belly of the earth
-or-
in a big fish…in the earth/ground
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in a grave/tomb
-or-
buried
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