8:29a–b
The Greek of 8:29a begins with a word that is often translated as “behold.” It indicates that something extraordinary will happen. Here, the amazing event is that the demon-possessed men shouted at Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Suddenly (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Unexpectedly
“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted: The Berean Standard Bible places the words they shouted in the middle of what the two demon-possessed men said. In some languages, it may be more natural to put these words in the beginning of 8:29a. For example:
they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God?” (English Standard Version)
What do You want with us…?: In Greek, this sentence is literally “What to us and to you?” This is an idiom. It means “What connection/relation do we(excl.) have with you?”
This is a rhetorical question that implies “we have no connection/relation” or “we have nothing in common.” It also implies a request or rebuke, that is, “since we have nothing in common, you should not trouble us.” In this context, the demons, in fear or panic, were pleading with Jesus not to cause them to leave the men.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke and plea:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why are you bothering us…? (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
What business do we have with each other…? (New American Standard Bible)
• As a statement or command. For example:
Do not bother/disturb us!
-or-
We have nothing to do with one another!
-or-
leave us alone! (NET Bible)
Son of God?: The phrase Son of God is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.
The phrase Son of God occurs at 4:3b. You should translate it here as you did there. For further information, see the note on “My…Son” at 3:17b.
It may be more natural in some languages to put the phrase Son of God first in the clause. For example:
Son of God, what do you want with us?
they shouted: The pronoun they refers to the two men. These two men shouted the words that the demons wanted them to say.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
they shouted (New International Version)
-or-
they screamed (Good News Translation)
8:29c
“Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses a rebuke. The demons did not want Jesus to punish them before the time that God had determined.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Have you come to torture us before the proper time? (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Why have you come here? Is it to torment us before the right time?
• As a statement or exclamation. For example:
Do not begin to torture us before the proper time!
torture: The verb torture refers to causing great pain to someone to make them suffer. For example:
torment (English Standard Version)
-or-
punish (Good News Translation)
-or-
cause to suffer severely
before the appointed time: This phrase refers to the time that God set to punish the demons. The demons knew that their time to torment humans was limited.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
before the right time (Good News Translation)
-or-
before God’s appointed time (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
before it is time (God’s Word)
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