8:35a

The Greek text connects this verse to the previous verse with a common conjunction that can be translated as “and” or “but.” Most English translations, including Berean Standard Bible, do not explicitly translate this conjunction. Connect these verse parts in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Now (New International Version)
-or-
And (Contemporary English Version)

A slave is not a permanent member of the family: This refers to the fact that the slave is not a family member in the house where he works. He lives in the same house but is not related to the others and has no rights there. He has no permanent (lasting) place in that home, with that family. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

The slave does not remain in the house forever. (English Standard Version)
-or-
The slave is not a permanent part of the family.

A slave: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as slave refers to a person who is forced to work for someone else without pay. Use the same word that you used in 8:34b. The text here does not refer to one specific slave but to slaves in general. So it may be natural to say:

slaves (Contemporary English Version)

the family: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the family refers to a house as a home and those who live in that home. Slaves were considered to be members of that family as long as they lived and worked there. Once they left, they were no longer members of that household. They then became members of a different household. So it may be necessary to make this idea clearer. For example:

the home ⌊that he works in⌋
-or-
the household ⌊whom he serves⌋

8:35b

but: In the Greek there is no conjunction that connects 8:35a and 8:35b. The two statements stand in direct contrast, and some English translations like the Berean Standard Bible indicate this with a conjunction. Connect these two clauses in a way that is natural in your language.

a son belongs to it forever: This clause has been interpreted in two ways:

(1) It continues the metaphor and refers to the son of the master of the household. For example:

but a son belongs to the family forever (New Century Version)

(New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, New Century Version, English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It refers to Jesus as the Son of God. For example:

though the Son will always remain in the family (Contemporary English Version)

(Revised English Bible, King James Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most Bible scholars and translations. Jesus was still using a metaphor here. However, it is good to use words that also apply to Jesus, the Son of God, because he is the reality that the metaphor points to. For example:

the son belongs to it for ever (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the son remains forever (NET Bible Bible)

a son: In some languages you may not be able to talk about a son without saying whose son he is. If that is true in your language, here is another way to express this phrase:

the master’s son

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