Section 3:7–12
Crowds of people followed Jesus to Lake Galilee
Even though some people opposed Jesus (3:1–6), this section tells about the many people who wanted to come to Jesus. Some people wanted to hear him, and some wanted him to heal their sick people.
It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus healed many people at Lake Galilee
-or-
People come from many places to see Jesus
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 12:15–16 and Luke 6:17–19.
Paragraph 3:7–12
The story in 3:7–12 began sometime after the story in 3:1–6 ended. The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between these two stories. The events in 3:7–12 could have happened on that day or on another day.
3:7a
So: The Greek that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is a common connecting word which introduces the next story. In some languages, it is natural to begin a story with a time word or phrase. If your language is like that, use an expression here that is not too specific. For example:
Then (NET Bible)
-or-
After that
In other languages, a time word or phrase is not necessary. Introduce this story in a natural way in your language.
Jesus withdrew: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as withdrew means “went away,” “departed” or “left.” For example, the God’s Word says:
Jesus left (God’s Word)
If your language requires that you specify from where Jesus left, (Scholars have different opinions about why Jesus left. The main ones are: (1) Some scholars believe Jesus withdrew from the Pharisees, getting away from their opposition, One way to translate this would be: “Because his enemies were plotting to kill him, Jesus left the village and went….” (2) Other scholars believe Jesus withdrew from the synagogue and village so that more people from other areas would come to him. One way to translate this would be: “Jesus left the village and went outside by the lake.” (3) Still other scholars believe Jesus withdrew from the village or crowds to be alone with his disciples. One way to translate this would be: “Jesus left the village and people and went alone with his disciples to the lake, but….” If your language does not require you to say why or from what Jesus withdrew, it is recommended that you leave it unstated. However, if your language requires that you specify where he is leaving or why, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1); because it agrees with the parallel passage in Matthew.) you can say:
Jesus left that place
-or-
Jesus left that town
with His disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples means “learners” who are in a relationship with a teacher. The learners commit themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example. In the New Testament disciples often lived with their teacher and followed him wherever he went.
Here are some other ways to translate disciples:
• Use a term that refers to people who learn from a teacher or an expert. It is helpful if the term also implies that the learners are often with their teacher. For example:
learners/students
-or-
apprentices
Be careful not to use a term that would refer only to a student in a school or classroom.
• Use a term that refers to people who follow a teacher or leader by obeying his teaching. It is helpful if this term also implies learning from the teacher and actually following the teacher wherever he goes. For example:
followers
-or-
those who are committed/faithful (to a teacher/leader)
See how you translated this term in 2:15b. See also disciple in the Glossary.
to the sea: The phrase to the sea refers to going to the edge or shore of the sea. Jesus and his disciples went to the land right next to the sea. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:
to the shore of the lake (Contemporary English Version)
the sea: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as the sea refers to Lake Galilee. For example, the Good News Bible says:
to Lake Galilee (Good News Bible)
Lake Galilee is a large body of fresh water (21 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide). Lakes are smaller than oceans but usually wider than rivers.
If you do not have a word for lake in your language, here are some other ways to translate it:
a large body/area of water
-or-
a wide river
See how you translated this phrase in 2:13a.
3:7b
accompanied by a large crowd: Scholars differ as to whom the phrase accompanied by a large crowd refers:
(1) It refers to people from all the places in 3:7b–8c. For example, the Good News Bible says:
7b…and a large crowd followed him. 7cThey had come from Galilee, from Judea, 8afrom Jerusalem, from the territory of Idumea, 8bfrom the territory on the east side of the Jordan, 8cand from the region around the cities of Tyre and Sidon.
(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Revised English Bible)
(2) It refers only to the people from Galilee. The people from all the other places “came to him.” For example, the New International Version says:
7b…and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8eWhen they heard all he was doing, 8dmany people came to him from Judea, 8aJerusalem, Idumea, 8band the regions across the Jordan 8cand around Tyre and Sidon.
(New International Version, New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is the most natural way to understand the list in Greek.
a large crowd: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a large crowd means “very many people.”
3:7c
from Galilee: The word Galilee is the name of a region. This region was a Roman province. Here the word Galilee does not refer to the lake.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
from the region of Galilee
-or-
from the province of Galilee
Judea: The word Judea is the name of a region. This was the region surrounding the city of Jerusalem. This region was also a Roman province.
As with Galilee, here are some other ways you can translate Judea:
the region of Judea
-or-
the province of Judea
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