7:3a–b
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?: Before you translate 7:3a–b, there are two main issues to consider:
Issue 1: Rhetorical question
Verse 7:3 is a rhetorical question. It functions as a rebuke, and it continues the theme in 7:1–2. In 7:1–2 Jesus commanded his disciples not to judge/condemn other people harshly. Here he criticized them for judging/condemning another person with a small fault when they themselves have something more serious in their own lives.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (New International Version)
• As a question followed by a command. For example:
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye? ⌊Instead,⌋ you should pay attention to the plank in your own eye!
• As a command. For example:
Do not look at the speck in your brother’s eye. ⌊Rather⌋ pay attention to the plank in your own eye!
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
Issue 2: Metaphor
Verse 7:3 contains a metaphor. In this metaphor, a small sin/fault in your brother’s life is compared to a speck in his eye. A large sin/fault in your life is compared to a log that is in your eye.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. See the examples above. If you keep the metaphor, you may want to describe the meaning in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The “speck” represents a small sin/fault or a small number of sins. The “log” represents a large sin/fault or a large number of sins.
• Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit how it is similar. For example:
Why do you judge/condemn your brother for ⌊a small sin/fault which is like⌋ a small speck in his eye, when you have ⌊a large sin/fault in your life which is like⌋ a log in your own eye?
-or-
Why do you ⌊who have many sins judge/condemn your brother who has few sins? It is like⌋ looking at the speck in your brother’s eye when you have a log in your own eye.
7:3a
you: In Greek, 7:1–2 uses you plural. But here in 7:3, the Greek changes to you singular.
the speck: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speck refers to something that is very small and can get into a person’s eyes. It could be some dust, a very small piece of wood, or something similar.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
the little piece of dust (New Century Version)
-or-
the piece of sawdust (God’s Word)
-or-
splinter
your brother’s: The phrase your brother’s probably refers to something belonging to a companion or friend here. It may also include neighbors or people in general. It includes both male and female.
In some languages the word brother’s refers only to something belonging to someone with the same father. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a more general word. For example:
your neighbor (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
your friend (New Living Translation (2004))
7:3b
but: There is contrast between “look” of 7:3a and “fail to notice” in 7:3b. In some languages it is natural to use the conjunction but here (as the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions do). Your way to connect 7:3a and 7:3b will depend on the way you translate the rhetorical question and metaphor. (See the examples in the Display at 7:3a–b.)
fail to notice: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as notice also means “consider,” “be concerned about,” or “pay attention to.”
Here are some other ways to translate this verb phrase:
pay no attention to (New International Version)
-or-
do not think about
-or-
do not see
-or-
ignore
the beam in your own eye: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beam refers to a large, heavy piece of wood. It is usually used as a beam in building a house.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
wooden beam (God’s Word)
-or-
big piece of wood (New Century Version)
-or-
plank (New International Version)
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