Paragraph 22:21–23

22:21a–b

Look!: In the Greek, 22:21a begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “only,” “except,” or “nevertheless.” The New International Version translates this word as “But,” but the Berean Standard Bible omits this conjunction. It here expresses a strong contrast with 22:19–20. In those verses Jesus said that he would die to redeem them. In this verse he said that one of them will betray him. In the Greek text the conjunction is followed by a word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Look!. In this context it emphasizes that the next statement is shocking.

Languages have different ways to emphasize a shocking contrast like this. Some ways to introduce the contrast in English are:

But listen!
-or-
Even now (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But look (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages it may be helpful to begin a new quotation here. For example:

Then Jesus said, “But see/know this:…”

Translate the emphasis in this verse in a natural way in your language. Some versions change the word order. See the following note for examples.

The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table: In this statement Jesus told his apostles that one of them will betray him. His betrayer was at that moment eating with him at the same table. In Jewish culture when people ate together, they implied that they were loyal to each other. It was terrible for a disciple to eat the Passover meal with his master and then to betray him.

Translate this statement in an emphatic way in your language to help people understand that the betrayer was doing an evil thing. Some other ways to translate it in English are:

one of you will turn against me, and his hand is with mine on the table (New Century Version)
-or-
here with me on the table is the hand of the man who is betraying me (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me (New Living Translation (2004))

The hand…is with Mine on the table: Here Jesus said that Judas’ hand was on the same table as his own hand. That is a figurative way to say that he and Judas were eating a meal together.

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the meaning directly. For example:

The very person…is ⌊eating⌋ with me at this table.
-or-
The one…is here at the table with me! (Contemporary English Version)

My betrayer: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as My betrayer is more literally “the one betraying me.” The betrayer would deliver Jesus into the power of his enemies.

Other ways to translate this are:

my betrayer (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the one who turns me over to my enemies

The word “betray” occurred in 22:4, where Judas agreed to help the Jewish leaders arrest Jesus. You should translate in a similar way here. See the note on 22:4c for more information.

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