Paragraph 11:7–15
11:7a
As John’s disciples were leaving: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as John’s disciples is the pronoun “they.” They turned around and started to leave Jesus to return to John.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
While they were going away (NET Bible)
-or-
As they went away (New Revised Standard Version)
11:7b
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: Jesus changed from speaking to John’s disciples to speaking to the crowd. John’s disciples had probably walked a small distance away when Jesus began to speak to the crowd. The text does not say whether they heard Jesus when he spoke the words of 11:7c–15.
Here is another way to translate this clause:
Jesus turned to the crowd and began to talk with them about John
11:7c
What did you go out into the wilderness to see?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus repeated a shortened form of this same rhetorical question in 11:8a and 11:9a. In each case, this rhetorical question introduces another rhetorical question. Jesus used the first two pairs of rhetorical questions to state who John obviously was not. Then he used the last pair to emphasize who John actually was.
Translate this rhetorical question in a way that indicates that Jesus knew the kind of person John was but wanted the people to think about what kind of person John was. Jesus was not asking these rhetorical questions to criticize the people for going out to see John.
Here are some other ways to translate this introductory question:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
When you went out into the wilderness ⌊to see John⌋, what ⌊kind of man⌋ did you expect to see?
• As the introductory clause in a rhetorical question or statement. For example:
When you went into the wilderness, did you go to see…
-or-
When you went into the wilderness, you certainly did not go to see…
Use a natural way in your language to translate this type of expression.
wilderness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wilderness refers to a wild, desolate area where few people lived. Some versions like the New International Version translates this word as “desert.” It was often a dry area, but it was not just sand and barren. Some wild grasses and bushes grew there. The focus here is that few people lived there, not that it was dry.
Some languages have a special word to refer to such an area, such as “the bush” (Africa) or “steppes” (Asia). It may be appropriate to use such a word here.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
desert (New International Version)
-or-
empty land
-or-
region where no one lives
11:7d
A reed swaying in the wind?: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reed refers to tall grass that grows beside the Jordan river.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
• Use a general term. For example:
tall grass (Contemporary English Version)
• Use a specific term in your language for a type of reeds/grass that grows beside rivers and lakes.
There are four issues to consider when translating this clause: implied information, passive, metaphor, and rhetorical question.
Issue 1: Implied information
Some words from the previous rhetorical question are implied but not repeated here. It may be more natural in your language to include some or all of the implied words. For example:
⌊Did you go out into the wilderness to see⌋ a reed shaken by the wind?
Issue 2: Passive
This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
A reed swayed by the wind? (New International Version)
• Use an active verb. For example:
A reed that the wind sways?
Issue 3: Rhetorical question
This clause is also a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that the people did not go out to see a reed shaken by the wind.
Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
⌊Was he⌋ ⌊anything like⌋ a reed swayed by the wind?
-or-
A reed swayed by the wind? ⌊Certainly not!⌋
• As a statement. For example:
⌊You certainly did not go out to see⌋ a reed swayed by the wind.
-or-
⌊You certainly did not go out to see a man who is like⌋ a reed swayed by the wind.
Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.
Issue 4: Metaphor
Also, this clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus asked whether John was like a reed. A reed represents a man who has a weak character. He often changes his opinions because he is influenced by what other people think of him.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
Tall grass swaying in the wind? (God’s Word)
• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the topic explicit. For example:
Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind? (Contemporary English Version)
• Make the topic and point of similarity explicit. For example:
Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
⌊Did you go out to see⌋ ⌊a man who is weak/wavering like⌋ a reed blowing in the wind?
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
A man who always changes his mind?
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