5:7–10
The verses in 5:7–10 are parallel to 5:1–3 in the chiasm of 5:1–10. In Greek these verses continue the long sentence that began in 5:5. The sentence continues until the end of 5:10. Most versions divide these verses into shorter sentences. Connect the clauses in a natural way in your language.
These verses describe a time or times in Jesus’ life when he prayed with great distress. Many scholars believe that the author referred to Christ’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested and killed. Other scholars point out that there are also many other times in Jesus’ life when he prayed in distress. God heard Jesus during all those times.
5:7a
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life: The phrase During the days of Jesus’ earthly life refers to the time when Jesus lived as a mortal human being. He was a person with flesh and blood, like other people on earth. He knew that he would die.
Another way to translate During the days of Jesus’ earthly life is:
During his mortal life
-or-
While he shared in human weakness
In some languages it may be helpful to translate earthly life as “life on earth,” as many English versions do. For example:
During his life on earth (God’s Word)
5:7b
He: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He is a pronoun that is often translated as “who.” It refers back to “Christ” in 5:5 (5:5–10 is one long sentence in Greek), and some versions have the word “Christ” here.
Some versions supply the name “Jesus,” as in the New Revised Standard Version. Such versions may refer back to the phrase “Jesus, the Son of God” in 4:14. In some languages it may be helpful to refer to “Jesus Christ.” Refer to him here in a clear way in your language.
offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears: This phrase describes a time when Jesus prayed earnestly to God. The description has two emphatic phrases: offered up prayers and petitions and with loud cries and tears.
In some languages it is more natural to change the order of these phrases so that loud cries and tears comes first. For example:
he cried out weeping, petitioning, and uttering his requests
-or-
his tears flowed and he wailed as he prayed and begged ⌊God⌋
offered up prayers and petitions: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offered up can be used in a general way to mean “bring to.” It can also mean “bring an offering to” God. Here the author used it in a figurative way to mean that Christ’s prayers and supplications were like an offering to God. This figure of speech emphasizes that Jesus prayed earnestly.
In some languages it may be more natural to translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
He prayed and pleaded (God’s Word)
prayers and petitions: Here the author used two words that have almost the same meaning. Repeating the meaning like this emphasizes it. It implies here that Jesus prayed very earnestly. In some languages it is more natural to emphasize the statement in some other way. For example:
he prayed fervently
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prayers means “urgent requests to God to meet certain needs.” The word petitions means “requests to God.” It occurs only here in the NT. Some ways to translate the two words are:
prayers and requests (Good News Translation)
-or-
prayers and pleadings (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
begged God, praying earnestly
loud cries and tears: The Greek word that is translated as loud cries refers to “loud calls or shouts.” The word tears refers to water that comes from a person’s eyes in times of distress or strong feeling. Some other ways to translate the phrase loud cries and tears are:
His tears flowed and he wailed
-or-
weeping and crying out loud
5:7c
to the One who could save Him from death: The phrase the One who could save Him from death refers to God. In the Greek text it is emphasized. Scholars interpret the phrase save Him from death in different ways. The three main views are:
(1) It means “save him from dying.”
(2) It means “save him out of death—to give him life again after he died.” (This happened at his resurrection.)
(3) It means “save him from the fear of death.”
Most English versions are ambiguous. God was able to save Jesus from death in every sense, because he can do anything. If you need to choose one of the interpretations, it is recommended that you choose either interpretation (1) or (2). Both interpretations are based on common uses of the Greek word that can be translated either as from or “out of.”
5:7d
and He was heard because of His reverence: The phrase because of His reverence gives the reason that Jesus was heard when he prayed to God. In some languages it is more natural for this reason to come before the result He was heard. For example:
He submitted humbly to the will/desire of God. That is why God heard his request.
-or-
And because His respect for God was great, and also His obedience to the commands of God, God heard his praying.
He was heard: The phrase He was heard is passive. It implies that God heard Jesus’ prayer. It does not only indicate that he heard what Jesus said. It also implies that God listened and gave Jesus the help that he needed.
Some ways to translate the phrase are:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
And his prayers really were answered
• Use an active verb and supply God as the subject. For example:
God heard his praying
because of His reverence: The phrase because of His reverence indicates the reason why God heard Christ’s prayer. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reverence refers to awe or fear of God that causes a person to obey God. It implies that because of Jesus’ respect for God, he submitted to God and obeyed him. This word occurs only here and in 12:28 in the NT, but it also occurs in other Greek writings.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
because he honored God by submitting to him
-or-
because he humbled/lowered himself to obey what God wanted
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