5:24a–b
leave your gift there before the altar. First go: This clause indicates that you should wait to make your offering. Instead of presenting the offering at that time, you should put it down on the ground in front of the altar for a later time.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
leave your offering there before the altar (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
set down your gift on the ground by the altar
-or-
put your offering down in front of the altar
First go: Some English versions put the verb go at the end of 5:24a and before the word First in 5:24b. For example:
24aleave your gift there before the altar and go. 24bFirst be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (English Standard Version)
However, the Berean Standard Bible and most English versions put the verb go in 5:24b after the word First. You should do whatever is most natural in your language.
5:24b
First: The word First indicates that before giving your gift, you should be reconciled.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Before ⌊giving the gift⌋
-or-
at once (Good News Translation)
As mentioned in 5:24a, many English versions put the verb “go” here after the word First.
be reconciled: The word reconciled means “make peace between people or groups.” You must go to the person you have offended, settle the problem, and restore the relationship.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
make peace (Good News Translation)
-or-
find your fellowman and resolve your differences
-or-
make things right with each other
-or-
restore your friendship
5:24c
then come and offer your gift: After you have made peace with your fellowman, then you are permitted to come back to the temple and offer your sacrifice to God.
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