9:40

For: Verse 9:39b–c is the reason for 9:39a. But 9:40 states a more general reason for the principle in 9:39b–c. The Berean Standard Bible shows this with the conjunction For. Translate this conjunction with that meaning.

For a way to change the order of 9:39–40, see the General Comment on 9:39–40 below.

whoever is not against us is for us: This expression states that there are two groups of people:

(a) those who are for Jesus, and

(b) those who are against him.

All people are in one or the other group. So if someone is not against us, then he is for us. The pronoun us refers to Jesus and the disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

the man who is not against us is on our side (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
whoever does not oppose us stands with us
-or-
the person who is not our enemy is our friend

General Comment on 9:39–40

In some languages, it may be more natural to put the general reason (9:40) before the specific reason (9:39b–c). It may also be more natural to put the specific reason (9:39b–c) before the result (9:39a). For example:

40Whoever is not against us is for us. 39bSo no one who does a miracle in my name 39ccan in the next moment say anything bad about me. 39aSo/Therefore, do not stop him.

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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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