9:41a
Indeed: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Indeed is often translated as “For” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This conjunction probably indicates that 9:41 is an example that explains the principle in 9:40. Some versions do not translate this word. You should connect 9:40 and 9:41 in a way that is natural in your language.
if anyone gives you even a cup of water: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gives you even a cup of water is literally “give to drink a cup of water.” The Berean Standard Bible has left the words “to drink” implied.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
anyone who gives to you even only a cup of water to drink
-or-
if a person gives a small thing like a cup of water for you to drink
You should translate this phrase in a natural way in your language.
When someone gives a believer some water to drink, that deed is a small act of kindness. That deed is used as an example here. The person who gives water to a believer shows that he is “for Christ” (9:40), even if only in a small way.
you: The pronoun you here refers to the disciples. But it refers generally to any believer. The pronoun you is plural in Greek, but this does not indicate that many people have to share one cup of water. So in some languages it may be natural to translate the you as singular. Use an expression that refers generally to any believer.
a cup of water: The word cup indicates a small amount of water. It is perhaps a mouthful or two of water. You may want to use a container of that size that is usually used for drinking water in your area. Or you can just refer to a single drink of water. For example, the Good News Bible says:
a drink of water
9:41b
because: There is a textual issue here:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the words in name. The next Greek word then means “that.” The phrase “in name that” is an idiom that means “on the basis that” or “because.” For example:
because (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
on the understanding that
(Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, (The Good News Bible substitutes the word “Christ” with the pronoun “me.”) New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation, God’s Word, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the words in my name. The next Greek word then means “because.” For example, the New International Version says:
in my name because
(New International Version, King James Version, Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1).
you bear the name of Christ: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you bear the name of Christ is literally “you are Christ’s.” Believers have a relationship with Christ and he is head or leader of that relationship. Jesus referred to himself as the Christ here.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
you(plur) are Christ’s people
-or-
you belong to me, the Christ
-or-
because you are followers of the Messiah (Revised English Bible)
Christ: The Jews used the title Christ to refer to the special person whom God had appointed and promised to send as king and savior. The title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” and the two words have the same meaning.
In this context you may need to indicate that Jesus was using this title to refer to himself. Here are some ways to translate Christ in this context:
• Transliterate it according to the sounds of your language. For example:
Krais
-or-
me, Karisiti
• Transliterate it and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the Christ
-or-
me, the Kirisita
• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:
Christ, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the savior God promised
-or-
me, the Christ who comes from God
If you do not indicate in the text that Jesus was referring to himself as the Christ, you may want to include a footnote to explain this. For example:
Jesus referred here to himself as the “Christ.” The title “Christ” refers to the King and Savior whom God had promised to send.
See how you translated this word in 1:1 and 8:29c. See also Christ in the Glossary.
9:41c
truly I tell you: Jesus used the phrase truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it. Jesus used this phrase eight times in Mark. (Jesus also used the words “I tell you” to emphasize something. The words “Truly I tell you” are even more emphatic than “I tell you.”)
See how you translated this phrase in 9:1a. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.
Here are some ways that English versions have translated the phrase in this context:
I can guarantee this truth: (God’s Word)
-or-
I assure you (Good News Bible)
See the General Comment on 9:41a–d after 9:41d for examples of other ways to order the parts of this verse.
9:41d
he will never lose his reward: This statement is a figure of speech which has two negative ideas: never and lose. Jesus used these two negative ideas to emphasize the opposite meaning. This positive meaning may be expressed as:
will truly get his reward (New Century Version)
-or-
will surely be rewarded (Contemporary English Version)
The words will never lose do not refer to a person placing his reward somewhere and then later not being able to find it.
reward: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reward can mean “wages” or “recompense” or “reward.” It can be either positive or negative depending on what a person deserves. In this context it refers to something good that God will give to the person mentioned in 9:41a. God will give a reward because that person gave a cup of water to a believer. You may need to make it explicit that God will give the reward. For example:
God will surely reward him.
General Comment on 9:41a–d
In some languages it may be more natural to place the phrase “I tell you the truth” in a different position in the verse. For example:
If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. (New Living Translation)
-or-
For example, if someone gives even a drink of water to you because you believe in me, the Christ, God will certainly reward that person. I can assure you this is absolutely true.
Place this phrase where it is natural in your language.
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