10:23a
When they persecute you: The word persecute means “deliberately harm someone,” “mistreat someone,” or “cause someone to suffer.” People can persecute others physically, such as beating them or forcing them to leave their homes and taking their possessions forcefully. People can also persecute others verbally by saying hurtful things.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
treated badly (New Century Version)
-or-
cause to suffer
-or-
oppress
This word also occurs in 5:10a and 5:12b. You should translate it here as you did there.
in one town: This phrase refers to any of the towns or villages that the disciples will visit.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in one place (New International Version)
-or-
in any town/village
flee: To flee means to move quickly away from danger and seek a safer place.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
run away (Good News Translation)
-or-
escape
-or-
get away from the danger
10:23b
The Greek of 10:23b begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “for.” Verse 10:23b–c is the basis for the command to flee to another village (in 10:23a). Many English versions leave this conjunction untranslated, as the Berean Standard Bible does. In some languages, it will also not be necessary to translate this conjunction.
Truly I tell you: Jesus often used these words to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize.
Here are some other ways to show this emphasis:
• As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:
• As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
You will certainly not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes
If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here. See how you translated this clause in 10:15a.
10:23c
you will not reach all the towns of Israel: In Greek, this clause is more literally, “you will not finish the towns of Israel.” The thing to be finished is left implied in the Greek. The context implies that the disciples will not finish their ministry of traveling from one town to the next to preach the good news to the Jews (10:5–17).
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel (NET Bible)
-or-
you will not finish your work in all the towns of Israel (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will not finish ⌊going and preaching the good news⌋ in all the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes: There are many ways to interpret this clause. Here are the main interpretations:
(1) It refers to Jesus’ coming back to his disciples after the resurrection.
(2) It refers to Jesus’ coming to his father at the time of the ascension.
(3) It refers to Jesus coming in judgment against Israel in 70 AD when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.
(4) It refers to the second coming of Jesus at the end of the world.
(5) It refers to Jesus coming to and joining his disciples later on their trip.
There is much debate and disagreement among commentators about this verse. But this clause can be translated well without interpreting it. So it is recommended that you translate this clause literally and not try to interpret it.
the Son of Man: Jesus used the phrase the Son of Man to refer to himself. In some languages it may be necessary to add the pronoun “I” to show that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:
⌊I,⌋ the Son of Man
This phrase also occurs in 8:20b and 9:6a. You should translate it here as you did there. See also Son of Man in Key Biblical Terms for more information.
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