15:28

There is a textual issue here. Only some Greek manuscripts include 15:28. It is good to include this verse only as a footnote, as many English versions do. Here is an example footnote:

Only some Greek manuscripts include 15:28, which says: “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors.’ ”

If the major language version in your area includes this verse in the text, you may want to include it in brackets. This is what the New American Standard Bible does.

If you put 15:28 in a footnote, here are several ways to number the verses:

• Put the number 28 after the number 27. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

27–28The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.

• Put in the number 28 after the last word of 15:27, and have the footnote marker after it. For example, the New Century Version says:

27They also put two robbers on crosses beside Jesus, one on the right, and the other on the left. 28 ‡ 29People walked by…

• Do not include the number 28. Put the footnote after verse 27. For example, the God’s Word says:

27They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left. ‡ 29Those who passed by insulted him.

Because you may need to translate the words of this verse, consider the following notes. (The words cited below are taken from the footnote that the Berean Standard Bible provides for this verse.)

So the Scripture was fulfilled that says: The clause the Scripture…that says refers to a passage in the Old Testament that Isaiah had written (Isaiah 53:12). The clause the Scripture was fulfilled means that this scripture was a prophecy. It predicted something that would happen in the future, and the event that it prophesied was now happening.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

The Scripture became true which says
-or-
The Scripture was happening which says
-or-
The thing/event that the Scripture said would happen was now happening

the Scripture: Here the Scripture refers to a specific sentence in the Old Testament.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

the sacred writing/word/words
-or-
this word that Isaiah wrote in God’s book
-or-
this part of God’s word/message

And He: In the passage in Isaiah, He refers to the servant of the Lord. Here the servant of the Lord is identified with Jesus. However, it is important to keep the pronoun in this quotation. Do not translate He here as “Jesus.” The pronoun you use should be able to refer both to Jesus and to the servant of the Lord.

was numbered with the transgressors: The phrase was numbered with the transgressors means “was counted/considered a law-breaker” or “was considered to be of the group of those who broke the law of God.” He was both considered a lawbreaker and, as a result, treated as one. Your translation could focus on either aspect. For example:

He was considered a criminal. (Contemporary English Version from Luke 22:37)
-or-
He was treated like a criminal. (New Century Version from Luke 22:37)
-or-
He shared the fate of criminals. (Good News Bible from Luke 22:37)

If you need to change the passive verb into an active verb, you should use a very general subject. For example:

People/they considered/counted him a law-breaker.

the transgressors: The Greek word here translated as the transgressors means “law-breakers” or “those who break the law of God.”

Here are some other ways to translate this:

those who break the law
-or-
those who are not concerned to keep/obey the law of God
-or-
criminals

This word is similar in meaning to “sinners.” In some languages it may not be easy to find two terms, one for “sinner” and one for “those who break the law of God.” If that is true in your language, you could use the same term for both.

General Comment on 15:28

Here are some ways to translate this verse:

And the part of the sacred writings that says “He was considered a law-breaker” became true.
-or-
This word that Isaiah, the prophet, wrote in God’s book was happening: “He was treated as a criminal.”
-or-
God’s word said “People counted him as a law-breaker.” This thing was now happening just as God’s word said that it would.

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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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