Paragraph 1:20

1:20a

For it is written in the book of Psalms: Some versions add the phrase “said Peter,” because Luke’s extra information in 1:18–19 interrupts Peter’s speech. The Berean Standard Bible and other English versions do not add such a phrase, but it may be helpful to reintroduce Peter speaking. For example:

Peter continued: “For it is written in the Book of Psalms
-or-
Peter also said, “For it is written in the Book of Psalms

For: This word introduces an explanation here. This verse explains what Scripture (1:16) Peter had in mind. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Now (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
The words I have in mind (Revised English Bible)

it is written: This phrase is used here to introduce a quote from the Old Testament scriptures. Here the quote is from the book of Psalms.

The clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

• Use an active verb. King David wrote both of the Psalms that Peter quoted here. God inspired David to write those things. For example:

⌊David⌋ wrote
-or-

⌊God⌋ wrote ⌊through David⌋

1:20b–c

‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it’: These two clauses are commands in the third person (to “he/him”) in the Greek. David commands that something happen, but does not speak the command directly to that person or thing. Here it is implied that he asked God to make it that way. English does not have third person commands, but uses the words May and let for a similar meaning. Consider how your language does this kind of command.

These two clauses are an example of a Jewish poetry style. They wrote two clauses with similar meaning. This emphasizes the similar meaning. In some languages repeating a similar meaning is used in a different way (such as a rebuke). If that is true in your language, you may want to emphasize the meaning in a natural way in your language. For example:

May his place be deserted with no one to dwell in it!
-or-
May no one ever dwell in his place again!

1:20b

1:20b–c is a quote from Psalm 69:25. You will probably want to include this information in a cross-reference in your translation.

May his place be deserted: This clause is passive. Some languages must translate without using a passive clause. For example:

May his place be empty

his place: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as place refers to the location where a person lives. For example:

his house (Good News Translation)

But Peter was concerned with Judas’s position as an apostle, not with where Judas lived. So the Berean Standard Bible translates with the more general word place, which also allows the meaning of “position.”

deserted: This word refers to people leaving a building or place so that it remains empty of people. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

abandoned
-or-
uninhabited
-or-
empty (Good News Translation)

1:20c

let there be no one to dwell in it: The word dwell refers to living somewhere. For example:

may no one live in it (Good News Translation)

1:20d

1:20d is a quote from Psalm 109:8. You may want to include this information in a footnote or cross-reference in your translation.

and, ‘May another take his position’: The word and introduces the second quote from the book of Psalms. In some languages it is clearer or more natural to introduce this quote in a similar way to the first quote. For example:

It is also written, ‘May someone else take his place of service.’ (Good News Translation)

May another take his position: This is also a command in the third person in the Greek, as in 1:20b. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Let someone else take over his office. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Let another take his position of responsibility (NET Bible)

his position: Here this phrase refers to Judas having the position of an apostle. But the Old Testament quote refers generally to a position of responsibility. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

his position of responsibility (NET Bible)
-or-
Let another man replace him as leader (New Century Version)
-or-
his place of leadership (New International Version)

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