17:20a
Because you have so little faith: Some words from 17:19b are implied here but not repeated. The complete sentence would be:
⌊You could not cast it out⌋ because you have so little faith.
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as little faith describes the kind of faith the disciples had. They did not believe very strongly or with confidence.
Here are some other ways to translate these words:
It is because you don’t have enough faith! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Because your faith is too small. (New Century Version)
-or-
Because your faith/trust is lacking.
-or-
Because you do not believe/trust ⌊in God⌋ enough.
Jesus also used the expression “little faith” in 14:31b. You should translate these two expressions in a similar way.
He answered: In 17:20a, Jesus began to answer the disciples’ question. So, in some languages, it may be more natural to use the verb “said” instead of answered. For example:
He said to them (English Standard Version)
17:20b
For: In 17:20b–c, Jesus explained why he said that the disciples had little faith. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For. Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. They let the context indicate the connection instead. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.
truly I tell you: Jesus often used these words to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.
Here are some other ways to translate these words:
I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:
If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.
This clause first occurs in 5:18a. You should translate it here as you did there.
17:20c
if you have faith the size of a mustard seed: This is a type of comparison called a simile. In this simile, Jesus compared effective faith to a mustard seed. They are similar in that both can be small, and both can do mighty things. Even a small amount of true faith can move mountains. (For help in translating the term mustard seed, see the note below.)
Here are some other ways to translate this simile:
• Make explicit the way faith and mustard seed are similar. For example:
if you have faith as small as a mustard seed (New International Version)
-or-
if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed (New Living Translation (2004))
• Use a generic word for mustard seed. For example:
if you have faith, even if it is as small as the smallest seed
a mustard seed: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a mustard seed can also be translated simply as “a grain of mustard seed” (as in the English Standard Version). To Jewish people, the mustard seed was a symbol of smallness.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
• Use your word for seed and transliterate the word mustard according to the sounds of your language. For example:
a musutarade seed
-or-
a seed of ⌊the plant/tree called⌋ mutar
• Use a generic phrase. For example:
a tiny seed
• Use the name of a local seed that is known to be very small, but grows into a tree. If you use this option, you may want to indicate the literal name in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The Greek text is literally “a mustard seed.”
The phrase mustard seed also occurs in 13:31b–c. You should translate it the same way in both places.
17:20d
you can say to this mountain: This is an example of the small (but effective) faith of 17:20c. In Greek, the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as can say is future. It is as if Jesus were predicting that the disciples were going to say this at some time. But the context indicates that Jesus was implying that the disciples could move the mountain if they needed to. Use words which show that moving a mountain is an example. For example:
you can say to this mountain (New International Version)
-or-
you might ⌊for example⌋ say to this mountain
-or-
you could ⌊possibly⌋ tell this mountain
this mountain: This phrase probably refers to the mountain where Jesus had just been with his disciples. It is the mountain where his appearance had changed in front of them.
So you should translate this phrase as “this/that mountain.” You should not translate this phrase as “a mountain.”
17:20e
Move from here to there: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Move means to change position from one place to another. This word does not imply repeated movement back and forth.
The words from here to there indicate movement from a near place to a far place.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Leave from here and go over there.
-or-
Leave this place and go there.
In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:
to move from here to there
and it will move: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
and it will do it
-or-
and it would obey you
17:20f
Nothing will be impossible for you: This clause indicates that, if the disciples have even a tiny bit of faith, there is nothing that they cannot do. They will be able to do anything.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
There is nothing that you will not be able to do.
-or-
There is nothing that you cannot do.
-or-
All things will be possible for you. (New Century Version)
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