24:32a
They asked each other: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They asked each other is literally, “and they said to each-other.” It introduces a rhetorical question. Probably one of them asked the question, and the other agreed. Introduce this rhetorical question in natural way in your language. Some other ways to introduce it in English are:
They exclaimed to each other
-or-
They said to each other (Good News Translation)
24:32b
Were not our hearts burning within us…?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the disciples’ feelings as Jesus talked to them. They had intense feelings, which probably included awe, joy, hope, and excitement. The phrase our hearts burning is a figurative way to describe their feelings as Jesus explained the Scriptures to them.
Some ways to translate these intense feelings are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Weren’t our hearts glowing…? (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
• As a statement or realization. For example:
So that’s why we felt such burning/shining ⌊joy⌋ in our hearts
-or-
Our hearts were blazing ⌊with joy/awe⌋
• As an exclamation. For example:
No wonder we felt such ⌊joy/awe⌋ burning in us…!
Translate this emphatic joy and excitement in a way that is natural in your language.
our hearts burning within us: The phrase our hearts burning within us is a figure of speech. It describes very strong, good feelings. These feelings can include joy, awe, love, hope, and excitement. However, in some languages “fire” or “burning hearts” may imply anger or misery. If a literal translation implies a wrong meaning in your language, you should translate it in a different way. Some other ways to translate it are:
• Use a simile. For example:
our joy was like a ⌊beautiful⌋ fire in us
• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
we (two) felt great/strong awe/comfort
-or-
how thrilled we were
• Use a figure of speech that has the same meaning in your language. For example:
we were deeply moved
-or-
we were so stirred up
Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.
24:32c
The clause in 24:32c gives the reason for the disciples’ feeling of joy and excitement in 24:32b. In some languages it is more natural to give this reason before the result in 24:32b. See the General Comment on 24:32a–c below for an example.
as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us: This statement indicates that as Jesus talked to the two disciples, he helped them to understand the meaning of the Scriptures. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the phrases spoke with us and opened the Scriptures to us with one phrase. For example:
while he was explaining to us the written word of God
on the road: The phrase on the road refers to the walk/journey toward Emmaus. Other ways to translate it are:
while we were walking
-or-
during our journey here
opened the Scriptures to us: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as opened the Scriptures is an idiom. It means “explained the Scriptures.” It indicates that Jesus taught the two disciples from the OT Scriptures and explained the meaning so they could understand it. It does not imply that Jesus opened the pages of a book. It also does not indicate that Jesus had a copy of the Scriptures with him. Jesus was teaching the men from his own memory and knowledge of what the Scriptures mean.
Other ways to translate this phrase are:
explained the Scriptures to us (Good News Translation)
-or-
helped us understand the Scriptures
Scriptures: For help in translating the word Scriptures, see the note at 24:27d.
General Comment on 24:32a–c
In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of clauses in this verse. For example:
32aThey said to each other, 32c“When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, 32bdidn’t it warm our hearts?” (Contemporary English Version)
Use an order that is natural in your language.
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