20:46a
Beware of the scribes: In this context the word Beware is a warning. It implies that the disciples should be careful not to imitate the attitudes and actions of the scribes. Jesus did not want the disciples to follow their example and displease God.
In some languages it is necessary to make the warning more explicit for this context. For example:
Be careful not to act like the scribes.
-or-
Do not follow the example of the scribes.
-or-
Do not let the scribes deceive you.
the scribes: The word scribes also occurred in 20:1c and 20:19a. See how you translated it there. For more information, see scribes in the Glossary.
In this context Jesus was not referring to any specific teachers among the scribes. He referred in general to all of them.
20:46b
They like to walk around in long robes:
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as like to means “want” or “desire.” It indicates here that the scribes wanted to be noticed by the people. They were delighted when people admired them.
to walk around in long robes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as long robes refers to long, elegant expensive robes. The scribes liked to wear these robes and walk around in public places to show people how important they were. They wore these robes in order to look pious, religious, or more important than others.
Some other ways to translate this are:
wearing fancy/costly clothes when they walk in public places
-or-
to wear their expensive religious clothes and walk around among the people
20:46c
they love the greetings in the marketplaces: The scribes liked for people in the marketplaces to notice them. They loved for people to bow to them and greet them with special respect. They enjoyed this because they were proud. They wanted honor and attention in public. It was not because they were very friendly people.
In some languages a literal translation of 20:46c may imply that the scribes were simply being friendly to people. It may seem strange that Jesus criticized them for that. If that is true in your language, you may need to make the meaning clearer. For example:
when they go to the marketplaces, they enjoy receiving ⌊flattering/respectful⌋ greetings
marketplaces: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as marketplaces refers to large, open areas where many people came to buy and sell things. This word also occurred in 11:43. See how you translated it there.
General Comment on 20:46b–c
In this context there is no difference in the meaning of “like” in 20:46b and “love” in 20:46c. In some languages it may be natural to combine the clauses in 20:46b–c. For example:
For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces. (New Living Translation (1996))
20:46d
the chief seats in the synagogues: This clause tells another way that the scribes loved to be honored. They loved to sit in the places where the most important men sat in the Jewish houses of worship. They were happy when others treated them as important people.
the chief seats: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the chief seats is literally “the-first-seat.” This word refers to a bench in the front of the synagogue that faced the congregation. The places on this bench were reserved for important people. They were the seats of honor.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
the seats of honor
-or-
the front seats (God’s Word)
-or-
the reserved seats (Good News Translation)
-or-
the best seats (NET Bible)
This word also occurred in 11:43. See how you translated it there.
synagogues: Synagogues were buildings where Jews gathered to pray, read Scripture, teach their beliefs, and worship. The Jews also gathered there for cultural activities. There was only one temple (in Jerusalem), but each Jewish community had a synagogue. Some ways to translate synagogues are:
prayer-houses ⌊of the Jews⌋
-or-
meeting-places ⌊of the Jews⌋
-or-
worship buildings
-or-
houses for gathering together
If you make explicit a phrase such as “of the Jews,” be sure that it does not imply that Jesus was not a Jew.
If the word synagogues is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may want to include a word or phrase to explain the meaning. For example:
sinagog houses/buildings
Consider using a footnote that contains some of the information above. This word also occurred in 11:43. See how you translated it there. For more information, see synagogue in the Glossary.
20:46e
and the places of honor at banquets: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the places of honor refers to the places at the feast where the most important or honored guests sat. Use a natural expression in your language to describe places where important guests sit at a feast. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the best seats at banquets (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the places of honor at banquets (NET Bible)
-or-
the places where important people sit at feasts
© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.