7:34a
You will look for Me: The pronoun You is plural and refers in general to those who were listening to Jesus. It is implied that they will want Jesus to help them in some way.
Here is another way to translate this clause:
You will look for me. (Good News Translation)
but: The conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as but is usually translated as “and.” In this context it introduces something that is not expected. Although the people would look for Jesus again, they would not find him. He would be gone. Introduce this unexpected event in a way that is natural in your language.
you will not find Me: The people would not be able to find Jesus. In your translation, avoid implying that Jesus was lost. He would go to his Father in heaven, and that was why the people would not be able to find him.
7:34b
and where I am, you cannot come: The Greek text emphasizes the pronouns I and you to emphasize the contrast between Jesus and the people. This clause indicates that the people that Jesus spoke to would not be able to go to where Jesus would be. This refers to a future time, and it may be natural to use future verbs. For example:
you cannot go where I will be (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will not be able to come to me
come: In some languages it is more natural to use “go” in this context. See the Good News Translation example in the previous note.
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