13:57a

And: This part of 13:57 can be considered the result of all the rhetorical questions. Another way to begin this verse is:

So (Revised English Bible)

they took offense at Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as took offense means “were offended” or “were repelled.” This word also means “stopped believing.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they rejected him (Good News Translation)
-or-
the people were upset with Jesus (New Century Version)
-or-
they turned against him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him (New Living Translation (2004))

This same word occurs in 11:6, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “fall away.”

Paragraph 13:57b–58

13:57b

But Jesus said to them: In this section, there is a conflict/argument between two sides: the people and Jesus. The first side (the people) has already spoken. In English, when the second side responds, it is natural to begin the response with the conjunction But.

Here is another way to begin this response:

Then Jesus told them (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages, it is not necessary to begin Jesus’ response with a conjunction. For example:

Jesus said to them (Good News Translation)

13:57c

Verse 13:57c is a saying or proverb that was familiar to the Jewish people at the time that Jesus lived. Jesus quoted this saying or proverb to show that people “in his hometown” of Nazareth treated him “without honor.” They did not believe that Jesus was a prophet or anyone important. Therefore they did not show him honor/respect.

Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor: This clause means that a prophet is normally honored everywhere else. People usually give a prophet the honor and respect that he deserves.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Translate the noun honor as a verb. For example, the Greek is literally:

a prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and in his own household

• State this in a positive way. For example:

A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
A prophet is respected everywhere except in his hometown and by his own family (Good News Translation)

• Use an active verb. For example:

People honor/respect a prophet everywhere except in his hometown and in his own household

in his hometown: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hometown refers to the place where a person lived with his parents while he was growing up. It can refer to a town or region. Here Jesus was referring to the people in the town of Nazareth.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

in the town/village where he grew up
-or-
by the people in his village

This same word occurs in 13:54a.

in his own household: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as household refers to the people of the house. This refers to Jesus’ own family.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

in his own house (New International Version)

-or-

in his own family (Revised English Bible)

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