3:16a–b

because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!: The word because introduces the reason for spitting out the believers of Laodicea. It does not connect back to 3:15.

In some languages it is more natural to use a conjunction between the two connected clauses. For example:

you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold, therefore I am about to spit you out of my mouth

3:16a

So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So here introduces what Jesus would do because of the deeds of the Laodiceans. What he would do is told in 3:16b.

There is contrast between what the believers in Laodicea did and what Jesus wanted them to do. In some languages it is more natural to make that contrast explicit. For example:

But (Good News Translation)

Connect this verse to the previous verse in the way that is most natural in your language.

because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold: This verse continues the figurative use of “cold” and “hot” of 3:15b–c. Again, in some languages it is more natural to explain the figure of speech. For example:

since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold (New Living Translation (2004))

you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold: The word lukewarm refers to the middle temperature between hot and cold. Here this word implies uselessness (3:15) or unpleasantness.

Some languages do not have a word for lukewarm. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Allow the context to indicate the middle temperature and do not translate the word lukewarm. For example:

you are like water that is neither hot nor cold
-or-
you are not like hot water or cold water

• Use the implied meaning of “useless.” For example:

you are useless—neither hot nor cold

• Use the implied meaning of water that is unpleasant both to drink and to bathe in. For example:

you are unpleasant/disgusting, neither hot nor cold

3:16b

vomit you out of My mouth!: This phrase is a metaphor. It refers to Jesus rejecting the believers because of their laziness. Jesus rejecting them is like expelling lukewarm water because it tastes bad.

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:

⌊reject⌋ you ⌊like⌋ spitting out lukewarm water
-or-

⌊push⌋ you ⌊from me like⌋ spitting out water ⌊that tastes bad⌋

• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:

reject you
-or-
disown you

You may then want a footnote to explain the literal words:

Literally: “vomit/spit you out of my mouth.”

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

This statement indicates that Jesus would reject them because of their laziness and uselessness.

vomit: The Berean Standard Bible literally translates this Greek word as vomit. This word refers figuratively to Jesus forcefully rejecting them. Because spitting is a voluntary action and “vomit” usually implies an involuntary action, many English versions use the word “spit.” In your translation you should keep the meaning of forceful, deliberate rejection. For example:

eject/expel
-or-
forcefully spit

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