4:34a
Ha!: Scholars have different interpretations for the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions (English Standard Version, NET Bible, New International Version) translate as Ha!:
(1) It is an interjection. It expresses alarm, fear, dismay, or indignation. For example:
Oh, no! (God’s Word)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
(2) It is a command. It is the imperative form of a verb that means “to not trouble or disturb.” Some translations say things such as:
Let us alone! (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Go away! (New International Version (2011))
(New International Version (2011), New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004))
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
In your translation, try to find a word or phrase that people use to express alarm, dismay, or indignation.
What do You want with us…?: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as What do You want with us is an idiom. It literally says, “What to us and to you?” It means “What relationship do we(excl) have with you?” The evil spirit meant that Jesus had nothing in common with evil spirits. He implied that Jesus should not interfere with them.
This idiom is a rhetorical question that expresses the evil spirit’s fear, dread, and hostility. Some ways to translate this fear and hostility are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why are you bothering us…? (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
What business do we have with each other…? (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Why are you interfering with us?
• As a statement or command. For example:
We have nothing to do with one another!
-or-
Do not bother/disturb us!
-or-
Leave us alone…! (NET Bible)
us: The pronoun us probably refers to the demon in the man and other demons like him. The demon in the man was speaking on behalf of other demons too.
If it is not clear whom the pronoun us refers to, you may need to make this more specific. For example:
us ⌊demons⌋
-or-
us ⌊evil spirits⌋
Jesus of Nazareth: The phrase Jesus of Nazareth means “Jesus from the town of Nazareth.” In those days Jewish people generally had only one personal name. They were further identified by their hometown. Use the way that is natural in your language to indicate that a person is from a particular town.
The evil spirit used this phrase to get Jesus’ attention and to indicate that he was speaking to Jesus. Following the Greek word order, the Berean Standard Bible puts this phrase at the end of the question. In some languages, it may be more natural to put Jesus of Nazareth before “What do you want with us?” For example:
Hey, Jesus of Nazareth, what do you want with us? (Contemporary English Version)
4:34b
Have You come to destroy us?: This is a real question. The demon knew that Jesus was the Messiah and had the power to destroy demons. He may have feared that Jesus might destroy him right then.
come: The demon did not say from where Jesus came or where he arrived because that is not in focus. In some languages, a word like come may cause people to question where Jesus had come from. If that is true in your language, you may need to translate in a different way. For example:
Are you here to destroy us? (Good News Translation)
destroy: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as destroy means “ruin.” It refers to Jesus forcing the demon to leave the man and sending him away to wait for final judgment.
The evil spirit was afraid that Jesus would destroy its power. The spirit was probably also afraid that Jesus would send it and the other evil spirits to a place where they would be imprisoned. They would have to wait there for God’s final judgment.
In many languages, a word such as destroy may refer to smashing or breaking something. You may need to use a different expression. For example:
end our power
-or-
punish us
4:34c
In Greek, there is no word between the clause “I know who you are” and the phrase “the Holy One of God.” The Berean Standard Bible connects these with a dash. In some languages, it may be more natural to connect them in a different way. For example:
I know who you are: you are God’s holy messenger! (Good News Translation)
I know who You are: The pronoun I refers to the demon, who was speaking through the man. The demon knew that Jesus was the Son of God. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah whom God had sent to earth.
the Holy One of God: The evil spirit referred to Jesus as the Holy One of God. Some other ways to translate this are:
You are God’s Holy One (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the Holy One sent from God (New Living Translation (2004))
The evil spirit is not the only one to use this term. In John 6:69 the apostle Peter also used this term to identify Jesus.
In some languages, it may not be possible to use the word One to refer to a person. It may be necessary to use a more specific term. For example:
You are the Holy Person/Man from God.
-or-
You are the Holy Son of God.
-or-
You are holy and God sent you.
Holy: The word Holy has the basic meaning of “dedicated to God,” “reserved for God,” or “set apart for God.” It also means “to be pure” and “free from sin.”
Another way to translate this word is:
sacred
See also holy, sense A2, in Key Biblical Terms.
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