11:22a
But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the Jews’ thinking and Jesus’ thinking. The Jews thought that the Gentile people of Tyre and Sidon were evil, but Jesus indicated that the Jews were worse. The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But.
Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:
But ⌊even though they were bad⌋
-or-
But ⌊even though they never repented⌋
-or-
⌊You may think that they were very evil people⌋ but
I tell you: The words I tell you emphasize the following words. This expression is less strong than “Truly, I tell you” (in 8:10c).
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
I say to you that
-or-
think about this
-or-
listen
This phrase also occurs in 11:9c and 8:11a. You should translate it here as you did there.
11:22b
it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you: This clause compares the suffering of two groups of people. The Gentiles of the towns of Tyre and Sidon will suffer. And the Jews of the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida will suffer. But the suffering of the Gentile people from Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable than the suffering of the Jews from Chorazin and Bethsaida. This means that the Gentiles from those towns will suffer less than the Jews. God will punish them less than he will punish the Jews from those two towns.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you (New Century Version)
-or-
on Judgment Day, ⌊God⌋ will punish ⌊the people of⌋ Tyre and Sidon less than he will punish you
-or-
on Judgment Day, the punishment that ⌊God⌋ will give you will surpass the punishment of Tyre and Sidon
the day of judgment: This phrase refers to the time when God will judge all people for the things they have said and done on earth.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the Judgment Day (Good News Translation)
-or-
the day that ⌊God⌋ judges ⌊all people⌋
-or-
at the time when ⌊God⌋ judges ⌊everyone⌋
This phrase also occurs in 10:15b. You should translate it the same in both places.
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