7:49a–b

But this crowd that does not know the law, they are under a curse: The Pharisees thought that they were much better than ordinary Jews and talked about them with scorn. They thought that the ordinary people only believed in Jesus because they were foolish and had little education. They said two things about ordinary people: (1) they were not educated about the law and (2) therefore God would punish them. Make sure that it is clear that the phrase this crowd and the plural pronoun they refer to the same people. It is good to imply that the curse is the result of not knowing the law. For example:

But these people, who know nothing about the law, are under God’s curse. (New Century Version)
-or-
But those people who believe in him do not know the law and they will be punished.

7:49a

But this crowd that does not know the law: The conjunction But introduces a contrast. None of the leaders believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but many of the common people did. In some languages it may be natural to make this point of contrast explicit. For example:

Those many people who believe, they know nothing about our law.
-or-
But those people who believe in him do not know the law

this crowd: The phrase this crowd refers to the people there in Jerusalem in general. The religious leaders did not respect the ordinary people because they were not educated. You may be able to show this by using a term here that shows a lack of respect. For example:

this mob (New International Version)
-or-
these common/ordinary/unimportant people

that does not know the law: This clause indicates that the Pharisees thought that the common people did not understand the law nearly as well as the leaders. The leaders exaggerated here, because all the Jewish people knew much of the law. But the leaders implied that because of their lack of knowledge, Jesus could deceive them.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

who know nothing about the law (New Century Version)
-or-
they do not understand the law

the law: This phrase refers to the law of Moses. For example:

Moses’ Teachings (God’s Word)
-or-
the law of Moses (Good News Translation)

7:49b

they are under a curse: The clause they are under a curse indicates that the leaders believed that God was very angry with the ordinary Jewish people. God was so angry with them that he planned to destroy them. They were thinking of Deuteronomy 27:26, “Anyone will be cursed who does not agree with the words of these teachings and does not obey them.” (New Century Version)

This is a passive clause. There are at least three ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

they are damned (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Use an active verb. For example:

the law has cursed them
-or-
God has cursed them

• Use a noun. For example:

there is a curse on them (New International Version)
-or-
are under God’s curse (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
God’s curse is on them! (New Living Translation (2004))

under a curse: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as under a curse means the opposite of “blessed.” When God cursed someone, it meant that he judged him and decided that he would punish him. That person was then under a curse. In many places people will curse someone using magic. In your translation, avoid any reference to practices of magic or actions of witches. The idea in this verse is that God was angry with the people and would punish them.

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