12:41a
The men of Nineveh: This phrase refers to the people/inhabitants of the city of Nineveh.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
The people of ⌊the city of⌋ Nineveh
-or-
The Ninevites
will stand: There are two ways to interpret the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will stand:
(1) It means will stand up, or will appear. According to this interpretation, this verb refers to court proceedings when a person or people stand to give testimony. For example:
the people of Nineveh will stand up (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible)
(2) It means will rise from the dead, or will live again. This view is supported by some commentators.
The English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, and King James Version translate the verb literally as “rise” or “arise,” which can be understood either way. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.
When translating this verb, you should use a verb that is appropriate for appearing in court to condemn someone. It may not be the verb rise or stand. For example:
The men of Nineveh will appear in court when this generation is on trial (Revised English Bible)
-or-
The people of Nineveh will give testimony
at the judgment: This phrase refers to the day when God judges everyone.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
On the Judgment Day (Good News Translation)
-or-
On the day of judgment (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
on the ⌊day when⌋ ⌊God⌋ judges people
12:41b
with this generation: This phrase means “together with the people who are living now (that is, at Jesus’ time).” This means that the people of Nineveh will be standing at the same time as these people. It does not mean that they will stand in support of them. In fact, the people of Nineveh will stand to condemn them. To make this clear, the New Living Translation (2004) says:
against this generation (New Living Translation (2004))
and condemn it: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as condemn means “say that someone is guilty of sin.”
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
testify against it
-or-
show that you are guilty (New Century Version)
-or-
accuse you of sin
it: This pronoun refers to “this generation” (12:41b).
Here are some other ways to translate this:
them
-or-
that generation
12:41c
for: Verse 12:41c is the reason that the people of Nineveh will condemn this generation. The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for.
Here are some other ways to introduce this reason:
because
-or-
⌊They will accuse them⌋ because
they repented at the preaching of Jonah: This clause means that the people of Nineveh changed their minds about sin when they heard Jonah preach to them. They felt sorry for their sins and turned to God.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
the people ⌊of Nineveh⌋ repented when Jonah preached
-or-
they turned from their sins when they heard Jonah preach (Good News Translation)
-or-
When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. (New Century Version)
12:41d
There is some important, implied information in this part of the verse. Jesus implied here “but you did not repent.” Jonah preached, and the people of Nineveh repented. Jesus is greater than Jonah. But when Jesus preached, the people did not repent.
Here are some other ways to include this implied information:
• Put it after 12:41d. For example:
and something greater than Jonah is here, ⌊but you did not repent when he preached⌋.
• Put it before 12:41d. For example:
But ⌊you did not repent even though⌋ something greater than Jonah is here.
and: Verse 12:41d is also part of the reason for the people of Nineveh to condemn this generation (12:41b).
There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the reaction of the people of Nineveh and the implied reaction of the people of this generation. In some languages, it may be natural to introduce this contrast with a conjunction. For example:
But (God’s Word)
now: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as now literally means “look” or “see.” It focuses attention on what follows and indicates that it is important, unexpected, or amazing. Here this word indicates that the words that follow are important and amazing: something greater than Jonah is here.
Here are some other ways to show that the words that follow are important:
look (God’s Word)
-or-
I tell you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Listen ⌊to what I am about to say⌋
One greater than Jonah is here: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as One probably refers to Jesus. In some languages, it is possible for Jesus to refer to himself as One. In other languages, it will be more natural to say:
someone more important than Jonah is here
A similar expression (“something greater than the temple is here”) occurs in 12:6.
greater: In this context, the word greater refers to higher in status and not to bigger in size. Jesus was more important than Jonah.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
more important
-or-
more valuable
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