13:16a

The quote from Isaiah finished at the end of 13:15g. In this verse, Jesus began talking to the disciples.

Here are some ways to make this clear:

As for you, (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊Then Jesus said to his disciples,⌋

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the Jewish people described in the quote in 14b–15g and the disciples in 16a–b. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

blessed are your eyes because they see: This clause means that the disciples are blessed because they can see the truth. They are not like other Jews who look at things but do not see/understand them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God has blessed you, because your eyes can see (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You are blessed because you can see

blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed refers to the good situation/condition that a person is in when a superior person does something good to him. When God does something good to a human being and is kind to him, that person is in a good situation. He is “blessed,” “fortunate,” and “favored.”

Here are some ways to translate blessed:

Favored/fortunate
-or-

⌊God⌋ favors/approves
-or-
Joyful/desirable is the situation of
-or-
How good it is for

This word does not primarily refer to a feeling. However, a person in this good situation will frequently have good feelings like happiness and joy. Do not use a word that only refers to material prosperity or physical health. Do not use a word that refers only to being lucky. This word first occurs in 5:3a. See also bless, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

13:16b

and your ears because they hear: Some words from 13:16a are implied but not repeated here. Here is the complete clause:

and ⌊blessed are⌋ your ears, for they hear

This clause means that the disciples are blessed because they can hear and understand the truth. They are not like other Jews who hear things but do not understand them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and your ears can hear (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

and hear

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