8:22a

But Jesus told him: There is a contrast between the way we might expect Jesus to respond to the man, and the way Jesus actually responded. The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions indicate this contrast with the word But.

8:22b

Follow Me: Here Jesus used the word Follow in both a literal and spiritual sense. He commanded the man to go with him, and he commanded the man to become his disciple.

In 8:21a, this man is already called one of Jesus’ disciples. The people who followed Jesus had varying degrees of seriousness or commitment. So here Jesus was probably telling the man to become a committed disciple.

Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Follow me ⌊and become my disciple⌋
-or-
Come with me ⌊and be my true disciple⌋

The command Follow Me probably implies that Jesus commanded the man to follow him immediately, not in the future. In some languages, it may be good to make this explicit. For example:

Follow me now. (New Living Translation (2004))

8:22c

let the dead bury their own dead: This saying is like a proverb. It is short, and its meaning is not immediately obvious. One thing that makes it difficult is that the word dead is used in two different senses.

The first time dead occurs, it is used in a spiritual sense. It refers to people who are spiritually dead. They are people who do not know God. The second time dead occurs, it is used in its normal sense. It refers to physically dead people. So Jesus said that spiritually dead people should bury those who are physically dead.

In Jewish culture, it was very important for a son to properly bury his father. So Jesus’ statement would have shocked this man. Jesus used this statement to tell the man that he should not allow burial customs (or other customs) to hinder him from following the Lord.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Translate it literally and keep the saying like a proverb. For example:

let the people who are dead bury their own dead (New Century Version)

If you follow this option, it may be helpful to add a footnote. Here are some sample footnotes:

The first word “dead” refers to people who do not follow Jesus. They are “dead” to the kingdom of God. They can take the time to bury dead people. Jesus used this saying to tell the man that his customs, such as burial customs, must not hinder him from following Jesus.

• Explain the meaning in the text. For example:

Leave those who are ⌊like⌋ dead people to bury those who have died.
-or-
Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

Let the people who do not believe in me bury their own ⌊kind when they are⌋ dead.

their own dead: The phrase their own dead would normally refer to people from their own families. However, in this context it may refer more specifically to people who are spiritually dead like them. When such people die physically and need to be buried, others who are spiritually dead should bury them.

Here is another way to translate this:

their own ⌊kind when they are⌋ dead

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