Paragraph 22:43–44
Before you translate 22:43–44, there are two issues to consider:
Issue 1: Where to end the question?
Some English versions are like the English Standard Version and translate 22:43–44 as one long question. Other English versions end the question after 22:43b. For example:
43aHe said to them, 43b“How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? 43cFor he says, 44‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ (New International Version)
Still other English versions end the question in the middle of 22:43b. For example:
43aThen Jesus said to them, 43b“Then why did David call him ‘Lord’? David, speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit, 43csaid, 44‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by me at my right side, until I put your enemies under your control.” ’ (New Century Version)
Issue 2: How to handle the three levels of quotes
Notice that there are three levels of quotes in these two verses:
• 1st level: the words of Jesus
• 2nd level: Jesus quoted David
• 3rd level: Jesus quoted David who quoted the Lord
Most English versions use double quotes for the 1st level and single quotes for the 2nd level. It is the 3rd level that is different. Some versions use double quotes again. For example:
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand…” ’ (English Standard Version)
Other versions do not use quotes for the 3rd level. Instead, they use a colon before the 3rd level. For example:
‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit here on my right… (Good News Translation)
The Display will show different ways to handle these three levels of quotes. The Display will also show how to make one level indirect speech so that there are only two levels of direct quotes.
22:43a
He said to them: The pronoun He refers to Jesus. The pronoun them refers to the Pharisees. The words that follow are a set of question. This is the second set of questions that Jesus asked the Pharisees. Here is another way to translate this clause:
Jesus asked (Good News Translation)
22:43b–45
Verses 22:43b–45 contain a set of two questions. The real part of the two questions is actually the second question (in 22:45).
22:43b
How is it then that: The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as How is it…that is a question word that seeks to know how something came about. In this question is a Greek conjunction that the English Standard Version translates as then. In this question, the word then asks for a conclusion[RG1] . Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Therefore, how is it that
-or-
Then why does (New Living Translation (2004))
David, in the Spirit: This phrase indicates that the Spirit of God inspired David to say the words in 22:44. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the Spirit inspire David (Good News Translation)
-or-
David, guided by the Spirit (God’s Word)
-or-
David, speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit (New Century Version)
calls him Lord: The pronoun him refers to the Christ/Messiah.
The word Lord is the common word for Lord in the New Testament. It means “master,” “owner” or “a person who has great authority.” It is used to refer to someone greater in status or power. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
calls the Christ/Messiah ‘Lord’
-or-
calls his son/descendant his ‘Lord’
22:43c
saying: It might be useful to start a new sentence here. For example:
For he says (New International Version)
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