20:30a
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated literally means “look” or “see.” Some English versions translate it as “behold.” This word brings attention to the words that follow. If you have an expression in your language that someone uses when he wants to bring attention to something that he is about to say, you should consider using it here.
Most English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate this word here. See 19:16a and 19:27a for a similar context for this word.
there were two blind men: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as two blind men is more literally “two blind ones.” Most English versions translate this as two blind men. However, it is also possible that one of the two people was a woman. If possible, keep it as general as possible. For instance:
two blind people
sitting beside the road: Blind people in that part of the world usually had to beg for gifts from others in order to be able to eat. Worshipers going up to the Passover festival in Jerusalem were likely to give such gifts as a religious service. That is why these blind people were sitting beside the road.
The parallel passages in Mark and Luke use the word “beg.” However, Matthew does not make their begging explicit. If necessary, you can add a footnote to explain why the blind people were sitting beside the road. Here is a sample footnote:
These blind people were sitting beside the road in order to beg for gifts from the people going up to the Passover celebration.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
sitting by/beside the road
-or-
On the side of the road sat
20:30b
When they heard that Jesus was passing by: The verb heard could indicate that:
(a) these two people overheard the crowd talk about Jesus, or
(b) someone actually told them Jesus was passing by.
It is even possible that both happened.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
they heard ⌊the crowd saying⌋ that Jesus was coming that way
-or-
when someone told them that Jesus was passing by
-or-
Someone said, “Jesus is going past,” so
they cried out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cried out means “shouted.” The context implies that they shouted like this so that Jesus would hear them. They were not shouting in an angry or impolite way.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
they shouted (New International Version)
-or-
they began to shout (Good News Translation)
20:30c
Lord: There is a textual issue with the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord:
Some Greek manuscripts include this word. Most English versions follow these manuscripts. For example:
Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! (New Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, God’s Word)
Other Greek manuscripts do not include this word. Only a few English versions follow these manuscripts. For example:
Have mercy on us, Son of David! (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) and the majority of English versions.
The word Lord means “master.” It was a polite form that people used when they addressed a respected leader.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
sir (Good News Translation)
-or-
Big man
Son of David: This phrase is a title that means that Jesus was a descendant of King David. The Jews used this title to refer to the Messiah (Christ), because God promised that the Messiah would be a descendant of David (Isaiah 9:6–7, 11:1–5, Jeremiah 23:5). In some languages, it may be necessary to make this information explicit. For example:
the Descendant of ⌊King⌋ David
-or-
the ⌊promised⌋ Son/Descendant of ⌊King⌋ David
In some languages, it may be helpful to add a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
God promised that one of King David’s descendants would be the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6–7, 11:1–5, Jeremiah 23:5). The Jews were expecting this promised person to come, and they referred to him by the title “Son of David.”
This same phrase is in 9:27b. Translate it the same way in both places.
have mercy on us: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have mercy on means “have compassion/pity for.” It is the kind of thing that beggars would ask of people as they went past. The blind people were asking Jesus to help them in some way.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Have pity on us (Revised English Bible)
-or-
pity us ⌊and help/heal⌋ us
-or-
show kindness to us
This expression is also in 9:27b. You should translate it the same way in both places.
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