19:6a
So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So indicates that what follows is the logical result of what was said just before it.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Therefore
-or-
That is why
they are no longer two: The pronoun they refers to a man and woman who have joined together in marriage. As at 19:5c, here is another way to translate the word two:
two people
but one flesh: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but occurs when a pair of clauses is related, and the first clause contains the word “not” or “no.” In some languages, it is not necessary to translate this conjunction. For example:
they are one flesh (Revised English Bible)
one flesh: The phrase one flesh is the same phrase as in 19:5c. You may translate it in the same way here. For example:
one body
-or-
one person
-or-
like one body
In some languages, it may not be necessary to repeat the word for flesh. For example:
but one (New International Version)
19:6b
Therefore what: The Berean Standard Bible has not translated the two Greek words Therefore what in the same order as they are in Greek. In some languages, it will be more natural to follow the Greek order. For example:
What therefore (English Standard Version)
Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore indicates that what follows is the conclusion of what came just before it. It marks the big idea that Jesus wanted his hearers to understand.
Here is another way to translate this word:
So then (New Jerusalem Bible)
what: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what can also be translated as “that which” or “the people whom.” It refers to the man and his wife. Here, this word is not a question word.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
the people whom
-or-
a couple that (Contemporary English Version)
God has joined together: The verb joined together means “put together into a single unit.” It is related to the word for a bar (called a yoke) that joins two cows into a single unit to pull a plow or cart.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
God has yoked/united together
-or-
God has put/connected together
-or-
God has made into one
let man not separate: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as separate means to divide something into at least two portions. It refers to divorce. This is a command about what not to do.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
no one should separate
-or-
let no one split apart (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
no one should cause them to divorce
man: The word man is a general word for “human being.” For example:
human being (Good News Translation)
-or-
person
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