13:9

The saying in this verse also occurs in Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9, Mark 4:23, Luke 8:8, Luke 14:35. You should translate all these passages in the same way.

He who has ears, let him hear: These words are a saying that Jesus used to command or urge the crowd to carefully think about the words that they had just heard. This saying assumes that everyone in the crowd had ears and were able to hear. So it is addressed to all the people who were listening to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this saying:

• Use “they” or “you” instead of He. For example:

⌊All⌋ those who have ears, let them hear.
-or-

⌊All of⌋ you who have ears, hear/listen.

• Use a different type of clause. In some languages it may be more natural to use an “if” clause or a reason clause. For example:

If/Since you have ears, then pay attention.

• In some languages, it may be more natural to refer to the event of hearing instead of the fact of having ears. For example:

You people who can hear me, listen. (New Century Version)
-or-
Anyone who can hear, think about that parable.

let him hear: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as let him hear is a command in the third person. It does not express permission. For example:

Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!
-or-
You people who can hear me, listen (New Century Version)

In some languages it may be necessary to supply some information and say what the listener should be listening to. For example:

let him listen ⌊to me⌋
-or-
he should hear ⌊my words⌋

-or-

he must listen ⌊to what I say⌋

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