Paragraph 9:23–26

This paragraph finishes the story started in 9:18–19 about the girl who died. If you have a way to show that the story of the girl continues at this point, you may want to use it here. For example:

⌊After that,⌋ Jesus went into the official’s house.
-or-
Jesus continued along with the leader and went into his house. (New Century Version)
-or-
Then Jesus ⌊continued walking⌋ to the official’s house. When he arrived…

9:23a

entered the house of the synagogue leader: This clause can mean that Jesus “arrived at the synagogue leader’s house,” or that he “entered into the synagogue leader’s house.” For example:

Jesus arrived at the official’s home (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Jesus went into the home of the official (Contemporary English Version)

You should translate whichever one is most natural in your culture.

synagogue leader: This is the same synagogue leader who was mentioned in 9:18b. Use the same word for this person as you did there.

9:23b

flute players: This clause refers to people who were paid to come to a house where someone died. They were paid to play sorrowful tunes on a flute.

A flute is a musical instrument. It is a tube closed at one end and with holes along the length. A person blows in or across an opening at one end to make the sounds.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the funeral flute players
-or-
people playing musical instruments
-or-
musicians playing funeral songs
-or-
people playing songs of mourning

the noisy crowd: This clause refers to people who were paid to come to a house where someone died. They were paid to wail and make other noises of mourning. It probably also includes the noise of people coming and going and talking over the wailing and music.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the crowd making noise

-or-

a crowd wailing/mourning

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