10:42a

So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is a common connector that is often translated as “and.” It introduces what Jesus did after the disciples became angry. It indicates that Jesus’ action was a result of their anger. Some English versions do not use a connector. Connect the events in a natural way in your language.

Jesus called them together: This statement implies that Jesus asked his twelve disciples, including James and John, to come to him so that he could speak to them all together.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

called them to him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
called them all together to him (Good News Bible)

10:42b–c

Jesus’ statement in 10:42b has almost the same meaning as the one in 10:42c. (This is a parallelism. The Jews commonly used such parallelism to emphasize an idea.) Notice the similar parts of these statements:

42bYou know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

42cand their superiors exercise authority over them.

Jesus repeated these ideas in order to emphasize them. You should show this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the similar parts together. For example:

You know that those who are considered to be rulers in this world use their authority to lord it over the people under them.

those regarded as rulers: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those regarded as rulers is literally “those having a reputation to rule.” There are several ways to interpret this phrase. The most likely interpretation is that Jesus was referring to people whom others consider to be leaders.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those they call their rulers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
those who are recognized as rulers (New American Standard Bible)

rulers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rulers refers to people who govern other people. It is a general expression that can refer to either good or bad rulers.

the Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to any non-Jewish people. The Good News Bible says “the heathen.” See how you translated this word in 10:33e.

lord it over them: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lord it over them means “rule over them.” In this context it refers to exercising control over others in a domineering or dictatorial way. Jesus indicated that Gentile rulers generally acted in this way.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

have absolute power over people (God’s Word)
-or-
like to order their people around (Contemporary English Version)

them: In both 10:42b and 10:42c the word them refers to the people whom the rulers are governing.

and: In most English versions, the two parallel clauses in 10:42b–c are joined with the word and. In some languages a word like and may not be appropriate to join two statements with very similar meanings. Connect these statements in a natural way in your language.

Here are some other connectors that could be used here:

yes
-or-
indeed
-or-
in fact

their superiors: The phrase their superiors is literally “their great ones.” You should translate this with a term that refers to leaders or to “great men” (as in the Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible). The phrase their superiors refers to the same people as “those regarded as rulers.” If a literal translation would suggest that these are two different groups, it may be necessary to translate this simply as “they.”

exercise authority over them: The expression exercise authority over them has almost the same meaning as the expression lord it over them. It means “to rule over people,” perhaps with the idea of ruling them harshly or oppressing them.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

enforce their authority over people
-or-
use their authority to make people obey them

authority: The word authority means “the right to control, the power to rule.” See how you translated this word in 1:22b.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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