2:20a

But: The Greek connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates that 2:19 contrasts with 2:20. In 2:19 the bridegroom’s friends are rejoicing with the bridegroom, but in 2:20 he is taken away from them and they fast. Express the contrast in a natural way in your language.

the time will come when: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the time will come when is literally “days will come when.” It is an emphatic way to refer to an indefinite time in the future.

In some languages it may not be natural to speak of time coming. There may be another idiom or phrase to express this. Use an appropriate expression in your language. For example:

Someday

the bridegroom will be taken from them: The words the bridegroom will be taken from them refer to an event that was not a usual part of a wedding celebration. Usually the guests would leave the celebration first.

Jesus used this figure of speech to imply that he himself would be taken from his disciples. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit in some way. For example:

But the time will come when , the bridegroom, will be taken from them

will be taken: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be taken is a passive. It implies that someone would use force to make the bridegroom leave. In some languages it may be necessary to make this verb active and provide a subject. If that is true in your language, it is best to use a general subject. For example:

people will take the bridegroom from them

2:20b

then they will fast: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then they will fast is literally, “then they will fast on that day.” It emphasizes the time period when Jesus’ disciples (the bridegroom’s friends) would fast. Jesus did not imply that they would fast only on the day that he left. He probably implied that as soon as he left his disciples, they would begin to fast regularly or often.

Here are some other ways to translate this.

at that time they will fast (NET Bible)
-or-
that will be the time for them to fast. (Revised English Bible)

they: The pronoun they refers to the bridegroom’s friends and guests. In the metaphor they represent Jesus’ disciples.

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