10:39a

At this, they tried again to seize Him: The Jewish leaders again tried to seize or arrest Jesus so that he could not continue to teach the people. See also 7:30 and 8:59. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

The Jews tried to arrest Jesus again (God’s Word)
-or-
Again they tried to seize him (New International Version)
-or-
They again wanted to arrest him then (New Jerusalem Bible)

At this: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At this is not included in many manuscripts. That Greek word is often translated as “therefore” and some English translations translate it that way here. Other translations do not include the word, although it is likely original. Translate this word in a way that is natural in your language.

10:39b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here indicates a contrast between what people tried to do and what happened. What happened was unexpected. The guards wanted to arrest Jesus but could not do so.

He escaped their grasp: The expression escaped their grasp here indicates that Jesus’ opponents were not able to arrest him. They could not seize him. The expression does not indicate that they had Jesus in their hands and that he later escaped. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he got away from them (God’s Word)

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