5:6a
Blessed are: For help in translating the word Blessed, see the note at 5:3a.
those who hunger and thirst: The verbs hunger and thirst are both used figuratively here. Both verbs refer to desiring something very much, just as people desire food when they are hungry and water when they are thirsty.
Here are some other ways to translate these verbs:
• Change the clause to a simile. For example:
those who want righteousness ⌊like⌋ people who are hungry and thirsty ⌊for it⌋
-or-
those who desire righteousness ⌊as much as⌋ those who are hungry ⌊desire food⌋ and thirsty ⌊desire water⌋
• Translate the meaning of the figure. For example:
greatly desire
-or-
want to (New Century Version)
for righteousness: The word righteousness refers to doing the right and good things that God wants. A righteous person has good morals and is honest.
Here are some other ways to translate righteousness:
do what is right
-or-
do what God wills/desires
-or-
do what God requires (Good News Translation)
-or-
do what God considers right
This same word occurs in 3:15b.
5:6b
for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” are blessed. They are blessed because they shall be satisfied. For example:
because God will fully satisfy them (New Century Version)
In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:
They will be satisfied. (God’s Word)
In other languages, it will be more natural to put 5:6b before 5:6a. For example:
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied, ⌊so⌋ they are blessed.
they will be filled: The clause they will be filled refers to satisfying or filling those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Like a hungry person eats and is filled, God will satisfy/fill those who desire righteousness. This means that he will help them to become righteous.
Your translation of this clause will depend on whether you literally translated “hunger and thirst” in 5:6a. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
(a) If you have kept the verbs “hunger and thirst,” you may be able to literally translate “filled/satisfied.” Here are some other ways to do this:
• Use a passive form. For example:
they will be satisfied (NET Bible)
• Use an active form. For example:
God will fully satisfy them (New Century Version)
(b) If you have not kept the figures of “hunger and thirst,” you may have to translate the verb will be filled in another way. Here are some other ways to do this:
• Use a passive form. For example:
they will be given the power to do it
• Use an active form. For example:
God will help them to do this
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