10:14

But: In this context, the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But can also be translated as “Nevertheless” or “Even so.” The implied connection is:

But even though the people of Tyre and Sidon did not ⌊see the miracles and⌋ repent

Some English versions, such as the Good News Translation, do not translate this conjunction explicitly.

it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you: See 10:12. As in that verse, the phrase more bearable here means “will receive a less severe punishment.”

at the judgment: The word judgment refers to the future time when God will judge people.

you: The pronoun you refers here to the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida. See the note on 10:13a for more information on how to translate this pronoun.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

11:36a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces a conclusion. This is the conclusion that Jesus drew from what he had said in 11:34b (“your whole body also is full of light”). Since it does not directly relate to Jesus’ command in 11:35, several English versions (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004)) do not translate this conjunction. Use a natural way to translate a conclusion like this in your language.

if your whole body is full of light: See the note on 11:34c, which is almost identical. In the context of the warning in 11:35, there may be an implication here of truly having light (as opposed to being in darkness). Another way to translate this clause is:

if ⌊God’s⌋ light fills every part of you
-or-
if your entire mind is illuminated

As in 11:34c, some languages may have to translate the direct meaning instead of the figure. See the examples there.

11:36b

with no part of it in darkness: In this context the phrase with no part of it in darkness means “no part of your body is without light.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and no part of it dark (New International Version)
-or-
with no dark corners (New Living Translation (2004))

If you need to translate this meaning more explicitly, you can say:

and there is no error in your understanding

11:36c

you will be radiant: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you will be radiant is literally “the whole will be full of light,” which is almost the same expression as in 11:36a, “if your whole body is full of light.” The Berean Standard Bible varies the language in order to avoid a translation that is merely repeating itself. To do the same in your translation, you may:

• Use different wording (see the meaning lines in the Display of 11:36c).

• Emphasize that the entire person or every part of the person is illuminated.

• Emphasize the comparison between inner, spiritual light in 11:36c and a literal bright lamp in 11:36d. For example:

your whole life will be light as if you were close to a bright lamp
-or-
your mind will truly be bright like a person who is shined on by a strong light

11:36d

as though a lamp were shining on you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as though a lamp were shining on you is more literally “as the lamp in its brightness/brilliance shines on you.” This clause compares the inner illumination of God’s truth in a person’s life (11:36a–c) to a bright lamp that shines on a person. Another way to translate this is:

as when a lamp shines on you with its brightness (Good News Translation)

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

12:14

But Jesus replied: The phrase But Jesus replied introduces Jesus’ response to the man. In the response Jesus used a rhetorical question to refuse the man’s request. Jesus’ refusal contrasted with what the man wanted to hear. In some languages it may be natural to make this contrast explicit, as the Berean Standard Bible does by translating the Greek conjunction here as But. Another way to translate this is:

But Jesus said to him (New Century Version)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this response.

Man: The Greek form of address that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Man was a way to address a stranger. It was not disrespectful. In this context it indicated that Jesus disapproved of the man’s request. In some languages it would not be natural for Jesus to address the man like that in this context. If that is true in your language, here are other options:

• Use a term in your language that a teacher such as Jesus would use in a context like this. For example:

Sir
-or-
My friend

• Omit the direct address. In some languages, it may not be natural to use any form of address here. For example:

Jesus answered, “Who…” (Contemporary English Version)

In 5:20b, the Berean Standard Bible translates the same Greek word as “Friend.” Notice, however, that the context is very different.

who appointed Me judge or executor between you?: This is a rhetorical question. People often went to rabbis to settle disputes. Jesus refused to accept this role. He used this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one had appointed him to decide earthly matters such as an inheritance.

Some ways to translate this question are:

• As a rhetorical question, with or without the implied answer “No one.” For example:

who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Who gave me the authority to decide how you should divide ⌊your inheritance⌋? ⌊No one, of course.⌋

• As a statement. For example:

No one has appointed me to judge your affairs.
-or-
It is not my responsibility/work to decide your case and divide your property.

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

judge or executor: In this context, the Greek terms that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judge and executor probably refer to the same type of person. Both terms describe a person who has the authority to decide a property dispute (judge) and divide the property correctly (executor or more literally “arbitrator”). You may translate these terms as two expressions or use only one expression. You may also use nouns, verbal expressions, or a combination of both. See the examples in the preceding note.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

12:46a–c

This verse tells what will happen to a servant who does what Jesus described in 12:45. In some languages it may be helpful to introduce this verse with a connecting word or phrase. For example:

then (NET Bible)
-or-
If that happens (Contemporary English Version)

The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate: The two phrases on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate both mean “at a time when the servant is not expecting his master to return.” The master returns earlier than the servant expected. If your language has parallel structures like this, it may be appropriate to use two different phrases here. But if it does not, it may be better to combine both clauses into one expression. For example:

on a day and at a time when he is not expecting him at all

12:46d

Then he will cut him to pieces: There are three ways to interpret the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then he will cut him to pieces:

(1) It is a figure of speech that refers to severe punishment. For example:

his master will punish him severely (God’s Word)

(Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It is a punishment that involved literally cutting a person into two or more pieces with a sword or saw. For example:

and will cut him in two (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, New Century Version, NET Bible)

(3) It is an idiom that meant he would be “cut off” or banished. For example:

will cut him off (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because its meaning would include the other two interpretations. It also seems unlikely that Jesus was referring to literally cutting a person into pieces. It was certainly not a punishment that Jewish masters used on their servants. Since many versions follow the literal wording, it is suggested that you put interpretation (2) in a footnote. A suggested footnote is:

In Greek it says “cut him in two.” Many scholars think that this is a figurative expression that refers to severe punishment.

12:46e

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and here introduces a further explanation of 12:46d. By punishing the servant severely, the master would cause him to share the same fate as other unfaithful people. Other ways to express this connection are:

punish him severely and in this way he will share the fate of others who cannot be trusted
-or-
give him an extreme punishment so his situation/fate will be like other servants who were unfaithful

assign him a place with the unbelievers: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as assign him a place with is more literally “put his share with.” In this context it probably means “make him share the fate of.” Another way to translate this is:

make him share the fate of the disobedient (Good News Translation)

unbelievers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unbelievers is literally “faithless.” There are two main ways to interpret this word:

(1) It means unfaithful. These people are disobedient servants whom the master cannot trust. For example:

unfaithful people (God’s Word)
-or-
servants who cannot be trusted (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
others who don’t obey (New Century Version)

(New Living Translation (2004), Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, God’s Word, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means these people are unbelievers. They do not believe in God. For example:

the unbelievers (New American Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

The Revised English Bible has “faithless,” which can be understood either way. If you must choose between the meanings, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as do the majority of English versions. This fits the context of the parable better. See believe, Meaning 4, in the Glossary.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

13:19a–c

The Berean Standard Bible and most other English versions translate the parable in this verse using past-tense verbs such as “tossed,” “grew,” and “became.” A few versions, such as the Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation, use present-tense verbs such as “takes,” “plants,” and “grows.” Use whatever verb forms are natural in your language for this kind of parable.

13:19a

It is like a mustard seed: The clause It is like a mustard seed is a simile. It compares the kingdom of God to what happens when a mustard seed is planted. The Jewish people considered the mustard seed to be a symbol of smallness. However, the mustard plant grew to be a tree as large as three meters (ten feet) high.

The point of similarity in this comparison is the growth from something small to something large. Like the mustard plant, the kingdom of God is very small at its beginning, but it becomes very large.

The following may be a good model because it makes clear that the comparison describes the whole growth process, not just what the seed is like:

It is like what happens when someone plants a mustard seed in a garden. (Contemporary English Version)

mustard seed: If people in your language group do not know about mustard seeds or plants, here are some ways to translate mustard seed:

• Use a loan-word along with a general term if necessary. For example:

a seed of ⌊the plant/tree called⌋ mustard

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

a tiny seed

• Use the name of a local seed that is known to be very small, but which grows into a tree. If you use this option, you may want to indicate the literal name in a footnote. For example, you could say in the footnote:

The Greek text is literally “a mustard seed.”

Regardless of the way you translate mustard seed, you may want to add a footnote that explains the significance of mustard seed in the Jewish culture. For example:

For the Jews, the mustard seed was a symbol of something that was very small. But the mustard seed that was planted in the country of the Jews grew into a tree that was three meters high.

a man tossed into his garden: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a man tossed is literally “taking, a man threw.” The word “taking” means that the man picked up the seed with his hand. In some languages it may be more natural to leave this action implicit. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tossed here means to sow or scatter seed on the ground. The method of planting is not in focus here. You may use whatever term is natural in your language for planting this kind of seed in a vegetable garden or field.

13:19b

It grew and became a tree: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tree may refer to either a tree or bush. Most English versions have tree. However, another way to translate this is:

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush (New American Bible)

In some languages it may not be possible to refer to a mustard plant as a “tree” and there may not be a term such as “bush” or “shrub.” If that is true in your language, you may describe the growth of the mustard using other terms. For example:

grows as big as a tree (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
grew until it was a very large plant

13:19c

the birds of the air: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the birds of the air was a common way to refer to wild birds that can fly. In some languages it may be more natural to simply use a general word. For example:

birds (Good News Translation)

The same phrase occurs in 8:5.

nested in its branches: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nested usually means “made a home.” In this context it may also refer to roosting or finding temporary shelter. Some ways to translate this verb are:

make their nests (Good News Translation)
-or-
sheltered (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
came to roost (Revised English Bible)
-or-
perched (New International Version)

Use a natural term in your language that describes what birds might do in a plant of this size.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

14:16a

But Jesus replied: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But Jesus replied is more literally “But/and he said to him.” Notice that Jesus was responding to a comment, not a question. Use a quote introduction that is appropriate in your language for this kind of situation.

A certain man prepared a great banquet: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as A certain man was a natural way to begin a story. It introduced the main character by telling what he was doing. Consider how to naturally introduce a short story like this in your language. Another way to do this in English is:

There was once a man who began to prepare a great banquet.

prepared: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prepared literally means “made.” In this context it means “was planning.” The man himself would have been a rich man who had slaves to do the actual work of purchasing the food and cooking.

a great banquet: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as banquet is the same word that it translated as “banquet” in 14:12b. In this context it clearly refers to a large meal or feast.

14:16b

and invited many guests: According to Jewish custom, a person who was planning a banquet first sent out a servant with an invitation that gave general information. He probably did not go personally to invite the guests. Invited guests normally indicated whether they planned to attend. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and had sent out many invitations (Revised English Bible)
-or-
He sent a servant to invite many people to attend

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

15:13a

After a few days: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as After a few days is more literally “Not many days later.” For example:

After a few days (Good News Translation)

the younger son got everything together: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as got everything together indicates that he gathered all his possessions that could be moved. The context probably implies that the younger son sold all his share of the property as soon as he could. Then he packed up his money and everything else that he wanted to take with him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money (Good News Translation)
-or-
the younger son sold his share and took his money and possessions

15:13b

journeyed to a distant country: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as journeyed to a distant country means here that the younger son left home and traveled to a foreign land that was far from his home.

15:13c

In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that the younger son not only set off for this distant country but actually reached it. For example:

⌊When he arrived⌋…

squandered his wealth in wild living: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as squandered his wealth means “wasted his money.” The younger son was extravagant and wasteful. He did not try to use his money wisely. Other ways to translate this are:

he wasted his money by behaving in ways that were not appropriate
-or-
he did all sorts of useless things and wasted his wealth

wild living: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wild living refers to a way of life that is reckless and immoral. It would have included activities like gambling, getting drunk, holding big parties, and spending time with immoral women.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.