Paragraph 12:29–31
12:29
In the two preceding paragraphs, Jesus told his disciples not to worry about food or clothes. 12:29 repeats Jesus’ command not to worry about food or drink. Then it gives more general instructions not to worry about such things, as pagans do, but to seek God’s kingdom.
Versions such as the New International Version, Revised Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible do not start a new paragraph with this verse. The Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, and some other versions do start a new paragraph here. You should do whatever is appropriate in your language.
12:29a
And do not: In Greek, this verse begins with the emphatic plural pronoun “you.” More literally, it says “And you, do not….” This emphatic pronoun may contrast the disciples with the birds and flowers (preceding context) or with people who do not know God (12:30). If possible, translate this sentence in a way that focuses attention on “you” (the disciples). For example:
As for you, do not seek (New American Bible)
do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as do not be concerned about is literally “do not seek,” that is, do not make this your life’s aim or goal. Other ways to translate this clause are:
Don’t always think about what you will eat and what you will drink (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not focus your thoughts on the food and drink that you need
-or-
Do not use all your time and energy in getting enough to eat and drink
12:29b
Do not worry: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worry occurs only here in the New Testament. It refers to feeling fear and anxiety. Its meaning is almost the same as the word that was translated as “worry” in 12:22b.
about it: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the phrase about it. It is not translated from anything explicit in the Greek text. Consider if you need to supply a phrase indicating what the disciples were not to worry about. Jesus meant that they were not to worry about what they were going to eat and drink, as in 12:22a.
General Comment on 12:29a–b
In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of words in these two verse parts or to combine them in different ways. For example:
So don’t be all upset, always concerned about what you will eat and drink. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat and drink. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Stop thinking and worrying about the food and drink that you need.
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