21:16a
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends: This is a passive clause, and the subject is explicit. The disciples’ own family and friends will betray them. The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as betrayed refers to being delivered/put into the power of enemies.
In 21:12 Jesus had already told the disciples that people would deliver them to the synagogue authorities. Now he told them that even their own family and friends would deliver them to authorities. He implied that it would be especially terrible when people who should have lovede them betrayed them.
In some languages, it may be more natural to use an active clause here. For example:
Even parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you… (God’s Word)
-or-
Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. (New Living Translation (2004))
See the note on 21:12c for more information. See the General Comment on 21:16a–b below for other examples.
parents: The word parents refers to a person’s father and mother.
brothers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brothers refers here to people who have the same father or mother. It is a general word that includes both brothers and sisters. It refers to a close kinship tie, not to brothers in the sense of fellow believers in Jesus. Disciples will be betrayed by their brothers and sisters who do not believe in Jesus.
Your language may have a word like “sibling” that includes male and female. There may be different words for older and younger siblings. Use appropriate words in your language.
relatives: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as relatives refers to people who belong to the same extended family or clan. This includes both males and females. Such relatives include aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and others in a person’s extended family. Use a word or phrase that is appropriate in your language for this context.
and friends: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as friends refers to people who like to be with each other. They usually trust and help each other. It refers to a different group of people from the term “relatives” in this list.
In some languages there are different terms for different kinds of friends. If you must use a specific term, choose one that refers to a close friend, because in this context Jesus referred to other close relationships. Consider which term for ‘friend’ in your language will fit best in this context.
21:16b
and some of you will be put to death: In the Greek, this phrase is more literally “and they will kill/execute some of you.” The word “they” refers to the government authorities who had the right to execute people. It does not refer to the disciples’ family and friends. After their family and friends betray them, the authorities will put some of them to death. Other ways to translate this clause are:
• Use a passive clause, as the Berean Standard Bible does.
• Supply a subject that refers to authorities who have the right to execute people. For example:
and ⌊the authorities⌋ will kill/execute you
General Comment on 21:16a–b
One way to translate 21:16 with active verbs is:
Even ⌊your own⌋ mothers and fathers and brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you ⌊to the authorities⌋; and ⌊the authorities⌋ will execute/kill some of you.
One way to translate 21:16 with passive verbs is:
You will be delivered ⌊to the authorities⌋ even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be killed/executed.
Translate 21:16 in the way that is most natural in your language.
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