6:35
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
35a
He will not be appeased by any ransom ;
35b
or persuaded by lavish gifts.
If a person has had an affair with the wife of another man, he may offer to pay compensation to that other man, but no matter how much the person offers, the husband will refuse it. It is implied that the husband will make sure that the offending man is severely punished.
6:35a–b
ransom…lavish gifts: Here the word ransom is a synonym for bribery. It refers to money that the adulterer offers to the husband, hoping to calm his anger, obtain his forgiveness, or persuade him to keep quiet about the crime. English versions make explicit various purposes for the money. For example:
Compensation will not buy his forgiveness (Revised English Bible)
-or-
no amount of gifts will satisfy his anger (Good News Translation)
-or-
No amount of money will change his mind. (God’s Word)
General Comment on 6:35a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:
There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy him (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
He won’t let you pay him off, no matter what you offer (Contemporary English Version)
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