Paragraph 11:53–54

11:53a

As Jesus went on from there:
The word there refers to the Pharisee’s house mentioned in 11:37. During the entire section that begins in 11:37, Jesus spoke from the Pharisee’s house.

In some languages, it may be more natural to make this information explicit. For example:

After he had left the house (Revised English Bible)

the scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the scribes is a synonym of the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “experts in the law” in 11:52a. It refers to the same group of men. It is recommended that you translate both terms in the same way.

The term scribes also occurs in 9:22b. See also teacher of the law in the Glossary.

Pharisees: This word also occurs in 11:37a.

11:53b

began to oppose Him bitterly: The phrase began to oppose Him bitterly indicates that the Jewish leaders became very angry with Jesus, and they began to treat him as their enemy.

Some other ways to translate the phrase began to oppose Him bitterly are:

began to be very hostile toward him (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
began to give him trouble (New Century Version)
-or-
began to criticize him bitterly (Good News Translation)

Be sure not to translate this in a way that implies physical opposition. The Jewish leaders opposed him in their thoughts and words.

They continued to be angry with Jesus and oppose him until he died months later. To show this, it may be helpful to include a phrase such as “From that day on.” For example:

⌊From that day on,⌋ the Pharisees and teachers opposed him fiercely

11:53c

and to ply Him with questions about many things: The clause ply Him with questions refers to asking many questions in a hostile manner. From that time until his death, the Jewish leaders began to ask Jesus many questions that they thought would be difficult for him to answer. They did this to try to trap him.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and to ask him hostile questions about many things (NET Bible)
-or-
and tried to provoke him with many questions (New Living Translation (2004))

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