7:23a
If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath means “Because you circumcise boys on the Sabbath.” It refers to the situation in 7:22b, where a baby born on the Sabbath is circumcised on the next Sabbath.
Here are other ways to translate this expression:
If someone can be circumcised on the Sabbath (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it (New Living Translation (2004))
7:23b
so that the law of Moses will not be broken: This is a purpose clause. It indicates that the purpose of circumcising on the Sabbath is to avoid breaking (disobeying) the law of Moses. The law of Moses required the people of Israel to circumcise their sons on the eighth day after their birth. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a positive purpose. For example:
in order to obey the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
The verb phrase will not be broken in this context means “may not be disobeyed.” It is a passive verb.
Here are some ways to translate this verb phrase:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
so that Moses’ Law is not broken (Good News Translation)
• Use an active verb. For example:
to avoid breaking the law of Moses (Revised English Bible)
-or-
to follow Moses’ Teachings (God’s Word)
Translate this verb in the way that is most natural in your language.
7:23c
why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used it as a rebuke. Jesus was saying that the people should not be angry with him for healing a man on the Sabbath. They should not be angry with Jesus because they do the same thing that they accuse him of doing.
There are two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
why are you angry with me for making someone completely healthy on a Sabbath? (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? (New International Version)
• Use a statement. For example:
You (plur.) should not be angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath.
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your own language.
making the whole man well: There is an implied contrast between this clause and the act of circumcision, which affected only part of the body. Jesus had made the paralyzed man entirely well, so that his whole body was cured.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
I made a man’s whole body well (English Standard Version)
-or-
I made a man completely well (NET Bible Bible)
the whole man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man is the same word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “boy” in 7:23a. It is good to use the same word in both places to help the reader understand the sentence’s logic. However, the word man in 7:23a refers to a baby boy, and in 7:23c to an adult man. Consider what term you could use that would naturally refer to both a baby and an adult male. For example:
someone(masc)
General Comment on 7:23a–c
In the Greek, as in the Berean Standard Bible, 7:23a–c forms one long sentence, a rhetorical question. In some languages it may be natural to divide this sentence into two or more separate sentences. For example:
For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? (New Living Translation (2004))
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