3:8a

Jerusalem: The word Jerusalem is the name of a city. It was in the region of Judea.

Idumea: The word Idumea is the name of a region. It was south of the region of Judea.

As with Judea, here are some other ways you can translate Idumea:

the region of Idumea
-or-
the province of Idumea

3:8b

the region beyond the Jordan: This particular region or territory was on the east side of the Jordan River, which was other side of the Jordan River from Jerusalem.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and the region/area across the Jordan River
-or-
the lands across the Jordan River (New Century Version)

the Jordan: The word Jordan is the name of a river.

3:8c

and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon: The words Tyre and Sidon are the names of cities. They were north of the region of Galilee on the west coast.

Another way to translate this phrase would be:

and…the region around the cities of Tyre and Sidon (Good News Bible)

3:8e

what great things He was doing: The phrase what great things He was doing refers to the miracles Jesus had done before coming to the lake. He had been doing miracles such as healing the sick and casting out demons. Also, he was teaching people.

In some languages, it will be more natural to make the word “miracles” explicit. For example, the New Living Translation says:

The news about his miracles

General Comment on 3:8d–e

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of 3:8d and 3:8e. For example:

8eMany people had heard of the miracles that Jesus had done, 8dthat is why many of them came to him.

General Comment on 3:7–8

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the parts of 3:7–8. For example:

7aJesus and his disciples went away to Lake Galilee. 8eMany people had heard of the things he was doing, so 7b,8da large crowd followed him. 7cThey had come from Galilee, from Judea…

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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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