15:10a–c
why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?: This is a rhetorical question. Peter used it to emphasize that they should not test God. Translate 15:10a–c with that function. Some ways are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
why are you testing God by putting a heavy load around the necks of the non-Jewish believers? It is a load that neither we nor our ancestors were able to carry. (New Century Version)
• As a statement. For example:
you test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear! ⌊That is wrong!⌋
• As a command. For example:
You should not test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear!
-or-
Do not test God by putting a heavy load around the necks of the non-Jewish believers! It is a load that neither we nor our ancestors were able to carry.
15:10a
Now: This word indicates that Peter changed from talking about past events to talking about the current debate about circumcising Gentile believers and making them follow Jewish laws.
In some languages translating Now literally would only mean “at the current time.” If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
Well
-or-
Okay
In some languages omitting this word would imply the correct meaning. For example:
So then, why… (Good News Translation)
then: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then is usually translated as “therefore.” That is its meaning here. For example:
therefore (English Standard Version)
you test God: A different verb tense may be more natural. For example:
why are you testing God…? (God’s Word)
-or-
why do you try to test God…? (New International Version)
test God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as test can mean “to test a person to see what they can or will do.” In this context, the Pharisee-group believers knew (or should have known) that God accepted Gentiles because of their faith (Acts 10:44–47) and without being circumcised. So by saying that Gentiles believers must be circumcised, they tested God because they challenged God’s will in this matter.
In some languages the word test has a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate in a way that indicates the correct meaning. For example:
will not accept what God has done
-or-
oppose/challenge God’s ⌊purposes⌋
-or-
reject God’s ⌊ways/will⌋
-or-
push God’s patience to the limit
15:10b
by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke: The word by indicates that placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke was the way they tested God. They demanded that Gentiles keep the whole law (including circumcision) when God had made it clear this was not necessary for salvation. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
that is, you want to put a yoke on the necks of the disciples
-or-
when you try to put a yoke on the necks of the disciples
-or-
We and our ancestors were not able to carry the burden of upholding Moses’ laws, so why do you want to give it to them, why do you want to test God?
placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke: This metaphor of “placing a yoke on the neck” of someone refers to making him do something difficult. People put yokes on large animals like oxen so that they can pull heavy loads. Here the yoke refers to following the whole law of Moses, including circumcision.
In some languages this metaphor would not be correctly understood. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Translate the words of the metaphor as they are and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
A yoke helps people or animals to carry or move heavy loads. Here it is a metaphor. It refers to making the disciples do something difficult.
• Change the metaphor to people carrying heavy loads. For example:
laying a load on the backs of the believers (Good News Translation)
-or-
placing a heavy burden on the shoulders of these disciples
• Translate the meaning as a metaphor or simile and explain in your translation that the yoke is keeping the whole law of Moses. For example:
making the disciples carry the heavy load of keeping the whole law
-or-
requiring the disciples to obey the whole law of Moses. That is like putting a yoke on their shoulders
• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
making the believers do something difficult
You may then want to indicate the literal meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples.”
disciples: This word in Greek means “learners.” The learners commit themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example. See how you translated this word in 6:1 or 14:28.
disciples: Here the word disciples probably refers to all believers. The burden would apply to all believers.
In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to the first twelve disciples. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain its meaning here in your translation. For example:
the disciples, ⌊that is, all believers⌋
-or-
⌊all⌋ believers
• Translate literally in your translation and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Here the word “disciples” refers to all believers.
yoke: A yoke is a piece of wood made to fit over the neck or shoulders of an animal. A yoke is put on an animal for pulling a cart, plow, or something like that. The picture below is a double yoke for two animals.
Other ways to translate this word are:
harness
-or-
pulling/carrying gear
15:10c
that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear: This tells the reader more about the yoke (or burden) to obey the whole law. It still uses the metaphor. If you translated the meaning of the metaphor in 15:10b, you may want to translate the meaning of the metaphor here. For example:
that neither we nor our fathers have been able to do
neither we nor our fathers: Peter spoke as a Jewish believer, and the phrase our fathers refers to the ancestors of the Jews. For example:
neither our ancestors nor we (Good News Translation)
-or-
not even we Jews or our ancestors
bear: Here this word means “carry a burden.” It is used figuratively to refer to the difficulty of obeying all the laws of Moses. Other ways to translate this word are:
carry (Good News Translation)
-or-
This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors (Contemporary English Version)
In some languages a literal translation would not mean “do something difficult” (see notes at 15:10b). If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
obey ⌊them⌋
-or-
follow
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