Paragraph 20:23–26

20:23

But: This conjunction indicates a contrast with 20:22. This verse tells how Jesus responded to the spies’ question. He responded in a way that they did not expect, so the Berean Standard Bible introduce the verse with But. Other English versions do not begin the verse with a conjunction. Begin the verse in a natural way in your language.

Jesus saw through their duplicity: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saw through means “to notice.” The clause Jesus saw through their duplicity indicates that Jesus realized that the spies were trying to trick him. Other ways to translate it are:

Jesus perceived their deceit (NET Bible)
-or-
he was aware of their cunning (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
He detected their trickery (New American Standard Bible)

The Berean Standard Bible uses an idiom to translate this meaning. If you have an idiom in your language that expresses it, you may be able to use it here.

duplicity: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as duplicity means “cunning, craftiness, trickery.” Here it refers to a deceitful and evil trick. The spies wanted to trick Jesus into saying something that would cause him great harm, even death. Their motives were evil. Another way to translate this is:

that they were trying ⌊with evil intent/cunning⌋ to trick him

and said to them: This clause introduces what Jesus said as a result of understanding the motives of the spies. Introduce his reply in a natural way in your language. Here is another way to translate this:

So he told them (Contemporary English Version)

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