20:25a
But: There is a mild contrast here. The disciples were concerned about who among them would be the leader. Jesus was concerned about teaching them to be servants. The Greek indicates this contrast with the conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But.
Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. Other versions use the word “So” here. You should connect this verse to the previous verses in a way that is natural in your language.
Jesus called them aside: This clause indicates that Jesus asked the disciples to gather around him. The pronoun them probably refers to all twelve disciples. It does not just refer to the two brothers.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Jesus called them all together (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus asked the disciples to gather around him
20:25b–c
Verse 20:25b and 20:25c are a parallelism. This means that they are two ways of saying the same thing. Notice the parallel parts in these two statements:
25bYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, 25cand their great ones exercise authority over them.
Jesus repeated this idea in order to emphasize it. You should show this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language. Some languages can repeat the idea. In other languages, it may be more natural to combine the two parts and translate them together. For example:
You know that the chiefs and big men of the Gentiles rule the people under them.
20:25b
You know that: Here Jesus stated something that the disciples already knew. He did not have to explain what he was talking about.
the rulers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rulers refers to people who are in charge of others. In this context, it probably refers to people in charge of other countries.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
the leaders
-or-
chiefs/kings
of the Gentiles: Jews used the word Gentiles to refer to all the people groups beside themselves. This word also occurs in 20:19a.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
the non-Jewish people (New Century Version)
-or-
people who are not Jews
lord it over them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lord it over comes from the Greek noun which means “lord” or “master.” As a verb, this word refer to the action that a lord or master does. He rules over his people.
There are at least two ways to interpret this verb:
It is used in a neutral sense to simply mean rule. It is what rulers do. They rule/reign over their people. For example:
have power over (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, God’s Word, King James Version)
It is used in a negative sense to mean abuse their power. For example:
love to show their power (New Century Version)
(Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
Many English versions translate this verb using the same word as the noun “lord.” So it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow.
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This verb does not necessarily have a negative meaning associated with it.
Jesus contrasted great men in this world with great men in the kingdom of God. Great men in this world rule over people. People serve them. Great men in the kingdom of God serve others. Jesus contrasted ruling and serving, not abusing power and serving.
them: The pronoun them refers to people governed by the rulers.
20:25c
their superiors: This phrase refers to men of high status who are in authority. It is parallel to “the rulers of the Gentiles” in 20:25b.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
great men (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
those in high positions (NET Bible)
-or-
their important leaders (New Century Version)
exercise authority over them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exercise authority over comes from the noun which means “authority.” As a verb, this word refers to the action that a man of authority does. He has/exercises authority over his people.
This verb is parallel to the verb “lord it over” in 20:25b. You should translate it in a similar way. For example:
have authority/power
-or-
rule/reign
-or-
govern
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