9:13a

But: The Greek conjunction here introduces a contrast with what Jesus had just said. In 9:12a Jesus agreed with part of what the teachers of the law said. Here he said something that disagrees with another part of what the teachers of the law said. This verse does not state what the teachers of the law said. They were probably saying that the prophecy about Elijah had not yet been fulfilled. Translate the connection in a way that indicates that Jesus disagreed with them here.

I tell you: Jesus often used the words I tell you to begin a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and that people should listen carefully to it. Some other ways to show this emphasis are:

• Use a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:

Let me tell you this
-or-
Listen
-or-
I assure you

• Use an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:

Elijah has certainly come

If you have another way in your language to emphasize an important statement, consider using it here.

Elijah has indeed come: John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy about Elijah coming and restoring all things. The historical Elijah did not come and restore all things. You may want to:

• Use a simile and include implied information here. For example:

someone like Elijah has already come
-or-
a person already came and fulfilled that prophecy about Elijah

• Use a footnote to explain. For example:

According to Matthew 17:13, the disciples understood that Jesus was referring here to John the Baptist. But the teachers of the law were probably expecting the prophet Elijah to return from heaven and fulfill the prophecy.

9:13b

they have done to him whatever they wished: The words they have done to him whatever they wished imply that people did all the evil and hurtful things to John that they wanted to. This included killing him.

If people in your area will think the people did only good things to John, you may want to include some implied information. For example:

they did all the evil things that they wanted to do to him
-or-
they badly mistreated him, just as they desired

they: The pronoun they refers to John’s enemies. This included Herod and Herod’s wife (6:17–20) and perhaps some of the leaders of the Jews (Matthew 3:7). If the pronoun they is not natural here in your language, you may want to use a general expression.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

people (Good News Bible)
-or-
some/certain people
-or-
there were those/people who…

9:13c

just as it is written about him: The clause it is written is a common way that people in the New Testament used to refer to the Old Testament. The Old Testament Scriptures predicted these things about John in his role as Elijah.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

as the Scriptures said it would happen (New Century Version)
-or-
just as the Scriptures predicted (New Living Translation)

The phrase as it is written also occurs in 7:6b.

© 2008 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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