Paragraph 2:49–50
2:49a
Why were you looking for Me?: This is probably a rhetorical question. Jesus was surprised that his parents did not understand why he had stayed behind. This answer to Mary’s question (2:48b) implies that Mary and Joseph should have known why he was with the teachers in the temple area. If they had known this, they would not have had to search for him.
Some ways to translate this include:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why did you need to search for me?
-or-
Why was it hard for you to find me?
• As a statement that expresses surprise. For example:
⌊I am surprised that⌋ you were searching for me.
-or-
You did not have to look anywhere else.
Use whichever form is most natural in your language.
He asked: The Berean Standard Bible puts the words He asked in the middle of the two rhetorical questions that Jesus asked. In some languages, it is more natural to follow the Greek order and put the words He asked at the beginning of 2:49. In some other languages, it may be more natural to put these words after Jesus’ second question. Do what is most natural in your language.
Some English versions translate this to show that 2:49 is the answer that Jesus gave to Mary’s question. For example:
Jesus answered (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he replied (NET Bible)
2:49b
Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?:
This is the second rhetorical question that Jesus asked. Jesus may have asked this to show that he was not being disrespectful and to explain his reason for staying behind in Jerusalem. This rhetorical question also implies that Mary and Joseph should have known where he was.
Some ways to translate this include:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house? (New Century Version)
-or-
Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house? (God’s Word)
• As a statement. For example:
I thought you would know that I had to be in my Father’s house.
-or-
You should have known that I would be in my Father’s house. (New Living Translation (1996))
Use whichever form is most natural in your language.
I had to be in My Father’s house: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I had to be is literally “it is/was necessary for me to be.” Jesus felt that he must be in God’s house, and he thought that his parents should have understood that. Another way to translate this is:
I must be in my Father’s house (Revised Standard Version)
My Father’s house: The phrase My Father’s house refers to God’s house, that is, the temple. The Jews referred to the temple as the house of God.
Jesus referred to God as “my father.” If people in your area will understand the phrase “my father” to refer to Joseph, you may have to add a footnote to explain it. You could say, “The words ‘my Father’ refer to God, Jesus’ Father from eternity.”
In your text, you should probably not translate the phrase “my Father” using implied information to make it clear. For example, you should not say “my ⌊eternal/heavenly⌋ Father.” You should not make the implied information explicit, because Joseph and Mary did not understand what Jesus meant by My Father (2:50).
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