6:44a
For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For marks this proverb as an explanation of what Jesus has just said. Some versions, such as the New International Version, Contemporary English Version, and New Living Translation (2004), do not translate this conjunction. Think about how you would introduce this saying in your language. For example:
Thus
-or-
In that way
Use a natural way to connect 6:44a to 6:43.
each tree is known by its own fruit: This is a passive clause. It means that when people see the fruit that a tree produces, they know what that tree is like. This includes knowing both the kind of tree (fig trees produce figs) and the quality of the tree (good or bad). Some ways to translate this are:
• As a passive clause. For example:
Each tree is known by its own fruit… (New Century Version)
• As an active clause. For example:
⌊People⌋ know what a tree is like by its fruit.
-or-
You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. (Contemporary English Version)
This saying is like a proverb. It means that the way a person acts shows what he is really like inside. It may be helpful to put this information in a footnote.
6:44b–c
Indeed: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Indeed connects 6:44b–c to 6:44a. It marks 6:44b–c as a further explanation of 6:44a. Versions such as the English Standard Version, NET Bible, and Revised Standard Version translate it as “For.” Versions such as the New International Version, Contemporary English Version, and New Living Translation (2004) do not translate the conjunction. Some other ways to connect 6:44b are:
For example
-or-
That is
Use a natural way to connect 6:44b–c to 6:44a in your language.
figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles: Jesus further explained the image of the fruit tree. The type of tree you grow determines the type of fruit you will get. Similarly, the type of person you are determines the way you will speak and act.
6:44b
figs are not gathered from thornbushes: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as figs are not gathered from thornbushes is literally “from thorn plants they do not pick figs.” Some other ways to translate this are:
You don’t pick figs from thorny plants (God’s Word)
-or-
Figs are never gathered from thornbushes (New Living Translation (2004))
The reason why people do not gather fruit from thornbushes is that it is impossible. Thornbushes do not grow fruit. So in some languages, it may be more natural to say “cannot pick.” For example:
You cannot pick figs…from thornbushes. (Contemporary English Version)
gathered: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gathered is a general word for the action of picking or plucking anything. People pick fruit such as figs with the intention of eating what was picked. Another way to translate this is:
gathered (New Living Translation (2004))
figs: The word figs are small, tasty fruits that grow on trees. Figs were very common in Israel.
If speakers of your language are not familiar with figs, some other ways to translate this word are:
• Use a more general term. For example:
fruit
• Use a specific type of fruit from your area. For example:
guavas
-or-
mangoes
thornbushes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as thornbushes refers to a plant that has thorns. It is a weed that grows in areas that people do not cultivate. If possible, you should translate this word by a general word that refers to these types of plants. For example:
thorny plants (God’s Word)
If you do not have a general word, you may translate this word by a specific type of thorny weed that grows in your area.
6:44c
nor grapes from brambles: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nor grapes from brambles is literally “nor do they pick a cluster of grapes from a bramble bush.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate the Greek verb in this clause. Another way to translate this is:
nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush (New American Standard Bible)
Some other ways to translate this are:
and they don’t get grapes from bushes (New Century Version)
-or-
and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes (New Living Translation (2004))
The Greek text uses a verb in 6:44b that specifically describes the action of harvesting fruit and a different verb in 6:44c that describes removing grapes from vines. Another way to translate this is:
figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush (English Standard Version)
If you have two different verbs that can describe gathering and picking fruit, you could use them here. If you do not have two words, you could use the same verb in both clauses, or you could leave out one verb, as the Berean Standard Bible has done.
grapes: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grapes refers to small fruit that grow in bunches or clusters. Grapes are very tasty. In some languages, there may not be a word for grapes. If this is true in your language, here are some other options to consider:
• Borrow the word for “grape” from another language. For example:
⌊a fruit called⌋ grapes
(Notice that grapes are different from and much smaller than grapefruit.)
• Use a general term that would fit in this context. For example:
small fruits
• Use a specific word for another type of small fruit that grows in your area.
brambles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brambles has almost the same meaning as “thornbushes” in 6:44b. Both words refer to thorny plants that do not produce fruit that people can eat. Scholars do not know the exact plants that Jesus was talking about.
If your language does not distinguish between different types of thorny plants, here are other ways to translate this:
• Choose a second plant that is bothersome to farmers or useless in providing food.
• Combine the two types of thorny plants into one. For example:
You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes. (Contemporary English Version)
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