17:4a
Even if he sins against you seven times in a day: The phrase Even if introduces a situation that might happen. It does not refer to a situation that has actually occurred. Some other ways to translate this are:
Your brother might sin against you seven times in one day. If he does….
-or-
Suppose that your friend sins against you seven times in one day
sins against you seven times in a day: As in 17:3b, the word sins refers here to something wrong or bad that one person does to another person. The phrase sins against you seven times in a day does not necessarily refer to doing the same sin each time. It could refer to seven different sorts of sin.
seven times: Jesus used the number seven to emphasize that the person continued to sin against the same person a number of times. The number seven does not imply that a disciple should not forgive his brother the eighth time he sinned. Jesus probably did not want his disciples to count each time the person sinned!
If a literal translation may imply that wrong meaning, it may be helpful to use a more general expression. For example:
even if he sins against you many times a day
If you decide to translate literally, you may want to include a footnote in your translation to make the meaning clear. For example:
Jesus’ point is that we should forgive others unconditionally as many times as they sin against us. Also see Matthew 18:21–35. (Translator’s Reference Translation)
in a day: The phrase in a day means “during one day” or “within a single day.” A day here refers to one twenty-four hour period.
17:4b
and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent’: In some languages it may not be natural to repeat the words seven times. It may be more natural to use a more general expression. For example:
and each time he comes to you saying, “I repent…” (Good News Translation)
returns: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as returns is literally “turns around” or “turns back.” The context implies that after some minutes or hours, the person who sinned regrets his sin. The Greek word may indicate that he turns again to the offended believer or it may imply that he goes somewhere and then returns. Some ways to translate this are:
and…returns to you (NET Bible)
-or-
and comes back to you (God’s Word)
-or-
and turns to you (Revised Standard Version)
to say, ‘I repent’: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I repent is the same Greek word as in 17:3c. Here Jesus used it to quote what a person might say to express his repentance to the person whom he offended.
In many languages, there are certain specific things that a person says when he asks someone to forgive him. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use such an expression here. It is good to use an expression that implies actual repentance, not merely polite apology. For example:
and says, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:
and says that he is sorry (God’s Word)
-or-
and asks you to forgive him
17:4c
you must forgive him: The phrase you must forgive him is a command. Here is another way to translate this:
forgive him (New Century Version)
The word forgive also occurs in 17:3c.
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