3:15a

I know your deeds: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deeds means “actions” or “activities.” You should translate this clause as you did in 3:8.

you: The Greek pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you is singular. It refers to the angel of the church as the representative of all the believers there.

In many languages it is more natural to use plural pronouns here. If that is true in your language, use plural forms in the following verses to refer to the believers directly. This is the same issue as in 3:8a.

3:15b

you are neither cold nor hot: This is a metaphor. It is probably comparing the Laodiceans and their deeds to water. In their culture, hot water was useful for certain activities (such as bathing), and cold water was useful for other activities (such as drinking). But the believers in Laodicea were not like the hot water or the cold water. They were not useful for anything.

In some languages it is necessary to make the implied comparison with water explicit. It may also be necessary or more natural to translate this metaphor as a simile. For example:

you are neither ⌊like⌋ hot ⌊water⌋ nor like cold ⌊water⌋

In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

you are neither ⌊useful⌋ like hot ⌊water⌋ nor ⌊useful⌋ like cold ⌊water⌋

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The phrase “neither cold nor hot” uses the metaphor of hot and cold water. Hot water is useful for certain activities, and cold water, for other activities. But the believers in Laodicea were not like the hot water nor the cold water. They were not useful for anything, because their faith bore no fruit (3:17).

3:15c

How I wish you were one or the other: This clause refers to the believers being neither cold nor hot as in the metaphor above. In other words, Jesus wished they would act in some useful manner. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Would that you were cold or hot! (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I wish that you were hot or cold! (New Century Version)
-or-
I wish that you served me in some useful way!
-or-
If only your deeds were ⌊as useful⌋ as hot water or ⌊as useful⌋ as cold water.

How I wish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as How I wish introduces an unfulfilled wish. Jesus wanted the believers in Laodicea to be like hot water or cold water, but they were not like either. Other ways to translate this clause are:

It would be better that
-or-
I wish (New International Version)
-or-
If only

one or the other: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as one or the other is literally “cold or hot.” In some languages it is more natural to translate the Greek literally. Use the order that is natural in your language. For example:

cold or hot (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
hot or cold (New Century Version)

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