1:42a
Andrew brought him to Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Andrew is literally the pronoun “he.” Andrew led or took Simon to Jesus. In some languages it may be more natural to identify Andrew like the Berean Standard Bible does.
1:42b
who looked at him and said: The pronoun him refers to Simon.
You are Simon son of John: Jesus used the phrase that people normally used to identify Simon. As there were many Simons living at that time, people identified him as the son of a man named John. This does not refer to the author John or to John the Baptist. Check that your readers do not think that Jesus was saying Simon was the son of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was last mentioned in 1:40b, so some may think that he is the John referred to here. To make it clear that this was a different John, you may say something like this:
You are Simon, and your father is named John.
In some languages it may seem very strange for Jesus to tell a man who he is. In those languages you may need to translate the name as a direct form of address. For example:
Simon son of John, you will be called Cephas. (Contemporary English Version)
1:42c
You will be called Cephas: This clause indicates that Jesus was giving Simon a new name, Cephas. Because there is a contrast with 1:42b, you may supply the word “but.” For example:
but you will be called Cephas (Good News Translation)
This is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
you will be called Cephas (Contemporary English Version)
• Use an active verb. For example:
I will call/name you Cephas.
-or-
From now on your name is Cephas. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
1:42d
which is translated as Peter: This clause is not part of Jesus’ speech. It is the author’s explanation of the Aramaic name Cephas. The Greek name Peter means “rock,” that is, bedrock, which is a huge area of solid rock under the dirt. It was a symbol of something that endures and is permanent and steady. Rock is permanent and endures, and Jesus was saying that Simon would be like that. He was giving Simon this name as a symbol of what he would become.
This is a passive clause. There are several ways to translate it:
• using a passive verb. For example:
This name can be translated as “Peter.” (Contemporary English Version)
• using an active verb. For example:
which means “Peter” (God’s Word)
It may help to let readers know that both Peter and Cephas mean “rock.” For example:
(that is, Peter, ‘the Rock’). (Revised English Bible)
-or-
that is, Peter, meaning “a rock” (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
Perhaps in your language the word “rock” is not a symbol for being permanent. Instead it could indicate that Cephas was stubborn or difficult. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate literally here. Include only the name Peter in the text, and then in a footnote explain that Peter meant “rock.” Also explain that this was a symbol that Peter would be steady as a disciple.
After this verse, Peter is called Peter or Simon Peter. The only exception is when Jesus called him “Simon, son of John” three times in 21:15-17. And even there, what Jesus said is introduced by “Jesus said to Simon Peter.”
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