Paragraph 6:6–11

In this paragraph, Jesus demonstrated his authority over the Sabbath. He had just stated in 6:5 that he had the authority to decide what people could or could not do on the Sabbath day. When he healed the man with the shriveled hand, he confirmed that authority.

The Pharisees’ laws about the Sabbath day stated that it was work to heal a person whose life was not in danger on the Sabbath. So when Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day, the Pharisees found a reason to accuse him.

6:6a

On another Sabbath: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as On another Sabbath is literally “and it happened on another Sabbath.” This phrase introduces a new story. This new story occurred on another Sabbath day. It may have been the next Sabbath day or several Sabbath days later. The exact time in relation to the previous Sabbath day story is not in focus. The important information is that this story happened on a Sabbath day.

Some other ways to translate this are:

One other Sabbath day
-or-
On another day of worship (God’s Word)
-or-
Once also on the worship day

For Sabbath, see the note on Sabbath at 6:1a.

Jesus entered the synagogue: The clause Jesus entered the synagogue tells where this story occurred. It occurred in the synagogue of some town. The pronoun he refers to Jesus. Make the subject explicit if it is necessary in your language. For example:

Jesus went into a synagogue (Good News Translation)
-or-
he went into the synagogue ⌊of a certain town⌋

synagogue: A synagogue was a building where Jews gathered to pray, read Scripture, teach their beliefs, and worship. The Jews also gathered there for cultural activities. There was only one temple (in Jerusalem), but each Jewish community had a synagogue. The text does not say where this particular synagogue was.

Some ways to translate synagogue are:

prayer-house ⌊of the Jews⌋
-or-
meeting-place ⌊of the Jews⌋
-or-
worship building
-or-
house for gathering together

If you make the meaning explicit with a phrase such as “of the Jews,” be sure that it does not imply that Jesus was not a Jew.

If the word synagogue is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may want to include a word or phrase to explain the meaning. For example:

the synagogue house/building

See how you translated synagogue in 4:15a. See also synagogue in the Glossary.

and was teaching: Jesus was teaching people things about God and the Scriptures. In some languages it may be necessary with a verb such as teaching to indicate whom Jesus taught and what he taught. The context indicates that Jesus taught them about religious law. You may need to supply some implied information here. For example:

and was teaching ⌊people⌋ ⌊things about God’s law⌋

6:6b

and a man was there whose right hand was withered: This part of the verse introduces a person who will be important in the story. It also tells information about him. Introduce this person in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

There was a man in that synagogue whose right hand was withered.
-or-
A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there. (God’s Word)

hand: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hand includes the fingers, palm, wrist, and forearm. The Greek text does not specify how much of the man’s hand was paralyzed. Probably the whole area from the fingers to the elbow was included.

Each language divides the body differently. If you have a term that includes the area from the elbow to the fingers, you could use that term here. Otherwise, you can use a general term for the hand and arm.

withered: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as withered means “dry” or “without moisture.” When the word was used to refer to parts of the body, it implied that that part of the body was “lifeless” or “paralyzed.” This man could not move or use his right hand or arm. Some languages would say that this man’s hand was “dead” or “dried.”

Some other ways to translate this are:

a deformed right hand (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
crippled right hand (Contemporary English Version)

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