1:37a
and when: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and when here connects the events in this verse with the events in the preceding verse. In some languages it may be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:
They found him
-or-
When they found him
they found Him: The phrase they found Him indicates that they discovered where he was. Simon and his friends located Jesus after looking for him for a while. Your translation should not imply that Jesus was lost. Simon did not know where he was, but he was not lost. He himself knew where he was.
1:37b
they said: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they said introduces an exclamation. Consider the content of the quote and the context in which it occurred. You will want to express the emphasis or emotion in a natural way in your language. In some languages this emphasis may be expressed in the words that introduce the exclamation. For example, the New International Version has:
they exclaimed (New International Version)
Everyone is looking for You!: The quote Everyone is looking for You! implies that the disciples did not understand why Jesus had gone away into an area with no people. They expected him to stay in the town in order to teach and heal all the people who were there. Unless this implied information is clear, Jesus’ reply in 1:38a may be hard to understand.
In some languages it may be necessary to make this information more explicit. Here are ways to do this:
• Use an expression of surprise. For example:
We
(excl) are surprised to find you(sing) out here! The people in town are all looking for you!(sing)
-or-
So we
(excl) have found you(sing) out here in the wilderness! Everyone back in town is looking for you!(sing)
• Use a statement or a question that implies a request for Jesus to return. For example:
Everyone in town is looking for you!(sing) Maybe we(incl) should return there.
-or-
Do you
(sing) think we(incl) should return to town? Everyone there is looking for you.(sing)
Be careful not to imply that Simon and his companions scolded Jesus disrespectfully.
Everyone: In this context the word Everyone refers to “many people.” It does not refer literally to every person. Simon and his companions used this word to give more emphasis to what they said. Another way to express this emphasis is:
So many people are looking for you!
Use a natural way in your language to express this meaning.
is looking: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is looking here implies that everyone wanted to know where Jesus was. They were trying to find him. This word is less emphatic than the word used in 1:36 that implies a diligent search.
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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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