11:6a

because: This verse gives the reason for the man’s request. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this reason with the conjunction because. In some languages, a conjunction is not needed here. See the second meaning line in the Display for 11:6a for an example.

has come to me: The phrase has come to me contains implied information. It is implied that the friend had just arrived unexpectedly and that he was hoping to stay at the man’s house. In some languages, it may make the story clearer if some of this information is made explicit. For example:

has come into town to visit me (New Century Version)
-or-
has ⌊unexpectedly⌋ come ⌊to stay with me⌋

11:6b

I have nothing to set before him: The clause I have nothing to set before him means “I have no food ready to give to him.” Perhaps his family had already eaten all the bread that his wife had baked that day. It would take too long to bake bread in the middle of the night. So he decided to borrow some.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I have nothing for him to eat (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I don’t have any food for him (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 11:5c–6b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of these clauses. For example:

6aA friend of mine on a journey has come to me, 6band I have nothing to set before him. 5c⌊So⌋ friend, lend me three loaves of bread.

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