20:15a
Woman: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Woman is a polite way to address a woman. In some languages it is more natural to use a different word when speaking politely to a woman. See how you translated this same word in 20:13. Here it is not an angel that is speaking, so it may be natural to use a different word. Mary thought that he was the gardener, so use a polite word that a gardener might use. For example:
Sister
why are you weeping?: This is a real question, the same question as in 20:13. Translate it here as you did there. For example:
Why are you crying? (New International Version)
Jesus asked: The Greek has the quote introducer before the quote. The Berean Standard Bible has placed the quote introducer in the middle of the quote, as can be natural in English. Place the quote introducer where it is most natural in your language. For example:
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? (New Revised Standard Version)
asked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as asked here is more literally “said.” Jesus asked Mary to tell him why she was crying, even though he knew the answer. Use the expression that is most natural in your language.
20:15b
Whom are you seeking?: Again Jesus asked a real question even though he knew the answer. Here are other ways to translate this question:
Who is it you are looking for? (New International Version)
-or-
Whom do you want to see/find?
you: This pronoun is singular feminine and refers to Mary.
20:15c
Thinking He was the gardener: Mary thought Jesus was the man who took care of this garden. She was wrong. Translate the verb Thinking in a way that allows for the possibility that she was wrong. For example:
Supposing him to be the gardener (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Assuming that he was the gardener
the gardener: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the gardener refers to a man who works in a garden. John 19:41 told us that Jesus’ tomb was in a garden. See how you translated the word “garden” there and use a word here that relates to that word.
20:15d
Sir, if you have carried Him off: This clause indicates that Mary thought that perhaps the man that she spoke to had removed Jesus’ body. Place the term of address, Sir, where it is natural in your language. For example:
Sir, if you have taken him away (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
If it is you, sir, who removed him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
If you are the one who moved the body, sir,
Sir: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sir was a polite way of addressing an adult male stranger. See how you translated this word in 4:11. Use a term that a woman might use to politely address an unknown man. For example:
Uncle (Tagbanwa Back Translation) In some languages it may be necessary to add a word like “my” before such a term of address. For example:
⌊My⌋ chief
if you have carried Him off: This clause expresses a possibility that the speaker thought may or may not have been true. Mary did not know if this man speaking to her had taken Jesus’ body away. She assumed, however, that someone had taken the body. In some languages it may be natural to translate this suggestion as a question. For example:
Did you take him away? (New Century Version)
-or-
are you the one who removed his body?
have carried Him off: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have carried…off here refers to taking away a dead body from the tomb. For example:
have taken his body away (Contemporary English Version)
20:15e
tell me where you have put Him: This clause is a polite request. Mary wanted to know where Jesus’ dead body was. Translate this clause as a polite request for information. Refer to Jesus’ dead body in a way that agrees with how you referred to it in 20:15d. For example:
please tell me where you put him/it
-or-
could you let me know where you placed his body?
20:15f
and I will get Him: This clause indicates what Mary planned to do after she found out where Jesus’ body was. Connect this clause to the previous clause in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
Then I will/can take him away.
-or-
so that I can ⌊go to him and⌋ take him away
I will get Him: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as I will get Him indicates that Mary would take Jesus’ body to a suitable burial place. She would take him away by asking some men to carry the body. Refer to the body in a way that agrees with how you referred to it in 20:15d, e. For example:
I will ⌊get someone to⌋ carry the body away.
-or-
I will ⌊cause/tell men to⌋ carry it away.
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