Paragraph 22:29–33

22:29a–b

The English Standard Version follows the Greek order and translates the result clause (“you are wrong”) before the reason clause (“because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God”). It is also possible to change the order of those two clauses. For example:

29bYou do not know the Scriptures nor do you know the power of God. 29aFor that reason you are wrong.

22:29a

But: The Greek conjunction that the English Standard Version here translates as But can sometimes indicate a contrast. But here the contrast is not very strong. It can also indicate a change. Here, the change is a change in the speaker. In the previous paragraph, the Sadducess were speaking. In this paragraph, Jesus began to speak.

Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some language, it will also not be necessary to translate this conjuction.

You are wrong: The Greek verb that the English Standard Version translates as You are wrong is more literally “You are deceived” or “You are misled.” Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You are in error (New International Version)
-or-
You are deceived (NET Bible)
-or-
How far you are from the truth (Revised English Bible)

22:29b

because: The form of the Greek verb that the English Standard Version translates as “you know” indicates that the Sadducees’ lack of knowledge is what caused their error. So the English Standard Version has supplied the conjunction because to make that relation clear.

Some English versions do not include this conjunction. For example:

You are completely wrong! You don’t know what the Scriptures teach. (Contemporary English Version)

you know neither: This is an exaggeration. The Sadducees knew at least the books of Moses. But they did not understand them well. If translating this literally would cause people to think that the Sadducess did not know the Scriptures at all, you can say:

you do not understand

the Scriptures: The Greek phrase that the English Standard Version translates as the Scriptures is more literally “the writings.” It refers to all the Old Testament.

nor the power of God: Some information from the first part of 22:29b is implied but is not repeated here. The complete clause would be:

nor ⌊do you know⌋ the power of God

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