8:4a

See that you don’t tell anyone: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as See that is a command that emphasizes Jesus’ warning to the man. Jesus was not telling the man to look at something. This command warned the man not to tell people that Jesus healed him from leprosy.

Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Listen! Don’t tell anyone (Good News Translation)
-or-
Don’t tell anyone about this! (God’s Word)
-or-
Do not say to anyone that I healed you.

Jesus knew that the Jews were looking for a type of “messiah” who would free them from Rome. He did not want the crowds to hear about the miracle and begin to wrongly think that he was that type of “messiah.”

8:4b

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates a contrast. The contrast is between what the man should not do and what he should do.

Here are some other ways to translate this contrast:

Instead (God’s Word)
-or-
But rather

go, show yourself to the priest: This clause is Jesus’ second command to the man. In this command, Jesus told the man to do what the Law of Moses commanded. According to Leviticus 14, a person healed of a skin disease must show himself to the priest. The priest would examine him to see whether his skin had really been healed. If he was healed, the priest would publicly declare him to be ritually “clean.”

In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

go, show yourself to the priest ⌊so that he can see that you have been healed⌋
-or-
go and show the priest ⌊that you have been healed⌋

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

go straight to the priest and let him examine you (Good News Translation)
-or-
go to the priest and let him examine you ⌊so he can see you are cured⌋

priest: The word priest refers to a Jewish man who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. A priest also performed other rituals for the people.

Here are some other ways to translate priest:

• Use a descriptive term that focuses on the function of priests. For example:

a sacrificer
-or-
a man who offers sacrifices to God
-or-
a man who represents people to God

• Use a local word for priests. This option may be acceptable if the duties of local priests are similar to those of Jewish priests. You may need to indicate that the word refers to Jewish priests. For example:

Jewish people’s priest/sacrificer

If possible, you should choose a term that can be used in both Old Testament and New Testament contexts.

See how you translated priest in the phrase “chief priests” 2:4. See also priest in the Glossary for more information.

8:4c

and offer the gift prescribed by Moses: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offer means “bring, present.” It indicates that the man was to give the gift to the priest who then offered it as a sacrifice to God.

In some languages, these types of “gifts” are called “sacrifices” or “offerings.” And in some languages, the clause offer the gift would be “make a sacrifice” or “give an offering” or some other term.

Here are some other ways to translate this in English:

offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered (Good News Translation)
-or-
present the offering that Moses commanded (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. (New Living Translation (2004))

You should use a term that is natural in your language.

gift: According to Leviticus 14:10, the man was required to offer three lambs, some flour and oil. If he was poor, he could give one lamb, two doves, some flour and oil (Leviticus 14:21–22). The singular word gift refers to all those items as a group.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

sacrifice(s)
-or-
offering(s)
-or-
what Moses said you must present
-or-
all that Moses ordered you to give

8:4d

as a testimony to them: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as a testimony to them means “to prove to the priests/people that you are healed.” After the priest had declared the man to be clean/well, and after he had offered his sacrifices, people would know and accept that he was healed and ritually clean. Then he could participate in public worship and live with his family again.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

to prove to everyone that you are cured (Good News Translation)

-or-

and everyone will know that you have been healed (Contemporary English Version)

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