Paragraph 6:28–30
6:28a
And: In this paragraph, Jesus continued to talk about worry. But he changed the topic from worry about life to worry about clothes. Here are some ways to connect this paragraph to the previous paragraph:
And
-or-
Furthermore
-or-
In addition
In some languages, it may not be necessary to have a connecting word or phrase here.
why do you worry about clothes?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses a rebuke. Jesus was rebuking his followers for worrying about having enough clothes.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why are you worrying about ⌊having enough⌋ clothes?
-or-
Why do you worry about what you will wear?
• As a statement. For example:
You should not worry about clothes.
-or-
It is wrong for you to be anxious that you may not have ⌊enough⌋ clothes to wear
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
6:28b
Consider: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Consider also means “observe.”
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Look (Good News Translation)
-or-
Think about (NET Bible)
-or-
Notice (God’s Word)
how the lilies of the field grow: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lilies could refer to any one of several varieties of wild flowers. The phrase of the field indicates that these flowers were wild. They were not planted and cared for by people.
Here are some other ways to translate this word in its context:
• Use a generic word for flowers. For example:
how the wild flowers grow (Good News Translation)
-or-
the plants that bloom/blossom and the way that they grow
• Use a word for a specific type of flower in your area. For example:
lilies/poppies and the way that they grow
6:28c
Verse 6:28c is what Jesus wanted his disciples to carefully consider.
They do not labor: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as labor means “work hard.”
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
toil (English Standard Version)
-or-
work hard (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
work (NET Bible)
or spin: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spin refers to twisting fibers together to make thread for weaving cloth. In this context it refers to making one’s own clothes.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
spin yarn for clothes (God’s Word)
-or-
make clothes for themselves (New Century Version)
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