13:33a

Be on your guard and stay alert!: There is a textual issue in this verse. Some Greek manuscripts have a third command that means “Pray!”:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts do not have this third command. Most English versions follow these manuscripts.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts have a third command that means “Pray.” For example, the King James Version says:

Take ye heed, watch and pray

(King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), since it has stronger manuscript support. Most English versions follow this option. However, you should also check the major language version in your area. If it follows option (2), then you may want to follow it or include it in a footnote.

Be on your guard: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as Be on your guard also occurs in 13:5, 13:9a, and 13:23a. In this context, it means “Stay watching.”

stay alert: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stay alert literally means “Stay awake.” It implies that they should be aware of what is happening and be ready for Jesus’ coming.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

be(plur) vigilant
-or-
be(plur) ready (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages it may be possible to use an idiom here.

13:33b

In 13:33b Jesus told the disciples the reason that they needed to “be on… guard.” They needed to be on guard because they did not know when Christ would return.

For: The Greek text introduces the reason with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For. Use a natural way in your language to indicate that 13:33b is the reason for 13:33a.

you do not know: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the disciples. However, it is not only the disciples who did not know. No one else knows either.

when the appointed time will come: The words the appointed time refer to “that day or hour” in 13:32a. It is the time when Jesus, the Messiah, will return again to earth.

will come: In some languages, the verb will come can only refer to people or other beings. It cannot refer to events. If that is true in your language, you can use the verb “will happen,” or “will be complete.” For example:

when that time will happen/occur
-or-
when that time will be complete

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase the appointed time more explicitly:

when the Son of Man will return
-or-
when I will return to earth

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