14:31a
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand: In some languages, it is not necessary to include the phrase His hand because that is understood by the verb reached.
The verb reached out is translated as “stretched out” in 12:13.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Jesus immediately stretched out his hand
-or-
Jesus quickly extended his hand
-or-
At once Jesus reached out (Good News Translation)
and took hold of Peter: The verb took hold indicates that Jesus grabbed Peter and kept him from sinking.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
grabbed hold of him (Good News Translation)
-or-
caught him (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
grabbed him ⌊and pulled him up⌋
14:31b
You of little faith: This phrase is the translation of one Greek word. Jesus used this word to describe Peter and rebuke him. He spoke directly to Peter.
If it is not natural in your language to speak directly to a person and at the same time describe and rebuke him, you may use a complete clause. For example:
You have so little faith (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Your faith is small (New Century Version)
-or-
You do not trust ⌊in me⌋ enough.
In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this rebuke as a rhetorical question. For example:
Why is your faith ⌊in me⌋ so little/weak/lacking?
The plural form of this word occurs in 6:30d and 8:26a.
why did you doubt?: This is a rhetorical question. It is a mild rebuke. Jesus was rebuking Peter for doubting.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why did you doubt me? (New Living Translation (2004))
• As a statement. For example:
You should not have doubted.
-or-
It was wrong to doubt ⌊me⌋
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
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