Paragraph 3:16–17

3:16a

As soon as: The phrase As soon as here means “immediately” or “without waiting.”

Here are some ways to connect this phrase to the rest of the sentence:

• Connect it to the word “baptized.” For example:

And when was Jesus was baptized (English Standard Version)

• Connect it to the verb “went up.” For example:

he went up immediately from the water (Revised Standard Version)

Jesus was baptized: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was baptized is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

After Jesus was baptized (God’s Word)

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊John⌋ baptized Jesus

It is clear from the context that John baptized Jesus. It is not clear what the form of baptism was like. You should translate this word in the same way that you did previously in this chapter (3:6b, 3:11, 3:13, and 3:14).

He went up out of the water: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went up can also means “came up” (as in the Good News Translation). In this context, it means that “Jesus came out of the river.” Jesus had stepped down into the river in order to be baptized. This word indicates that he returned to the edge of the river and stepped onto dry land.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he walked out of the water
-or-
he exited the river

3:16b

Suddenly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Suddenly is often translated as “behold.” It literally means “look” or “see.” This word brings attention to the words that follow. This word is often used when something unexpected and extraordinary happens. In this passage, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus.

If you have a term that gets the attention of people, you may want to use it here. Here are some English examples:

and behold (English Standard Version)
-or-
Unexpectedly
-or-
Look!

the heavens were opened: There is a textual issue in this verse. In some Greek manuscripts, this clause includes a Greek word that means “to him.”

(1) Many Greek manuscripts do not have this Greek word, and most English versions do not translate this word. For example:

the heavens were opened (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the word that can be translated “to him” after “heaven was opened.” For example:

Then heaven was opened to him (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) as the majority of English versions do.

heavens: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heavens can have two different meanings, depending on the context:

(a) the place where God lives

(b) the sky: the place where the sun, moon, and stars can be seen

In the New Testament, God often showed supernatural signs from the sky. Some signs were a voice, fire, and a bright light. In this verse, either the meaning “heaven” or “sky” would fit the context: The Holy Spirit came down like a dove and God’s voice came from heaven or the sky.

were opened: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were opened is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

heaven was opened (Good News Translation)

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ opened heaven

This phrase illustrates heaven opening like a door or curtain is opened.

3:16c

He saw: The pronoun He refers to Jesus here.

the Spirit of God: The Spirit of God refers to the Holy Spirit.

See the note on “the Holy Spirit” at 1:18d, and consider how you translated 1:18.

descending like a dove: There are two ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as descending like a dove:

(1) The Spirit of God took the bodily form of a dove and came down on Jesus.

(2) The Spirit of God came down upon Jesus in the same way that a dove would fly down. God’s Spirit took some bodily form, but it was not necessarily the form of a dove.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

coming down in the form of a dove
-or-
flying down in the shape of a dove

dove: A dove is a small, gentle bird. It is like a pigeon. It symbolized something that is gentle and peaceful. There are at least two ways to translate this word:

• If doves or some similar birds such as pigeons are known in your areas and are considered good birds or a good sign, you can use your word for a dove or pigeon.

• If doves are unknown or if they are considered a bad sign, use the general name for “bird.”

3:16d

and resting on Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and resting on Him is literally “coming upon him.” The text does not indicate exactly where on Jesus the dove landed. So you should not specify that it was on his head or his shoulder.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

coming down on him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
landing on him
-or-
descending to him

-or-

sat/perched on him

© 2023 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.

5:6a

Blessed are: For help in translating the word Blessed, see the note at 5:3a.

those who hunger and thirst: The verbs hunger and thirst are both used figuratively here. Both verbs refer to desiring something very much, just as people desire food when they are hungry and water when they are thirsty.

Here are some other ways to translate these verbs:

• Change the clause to a simile. For example:

those who want righteousness ⌊like⌋ people who are hungry and thirsty ⌊for it⌋
-or-
those who desire righteousness ⌊as much as⌋ those who are hungry ⌊desire food⌋ and thirsty ⌊desire water⌋

• Translate the meaning of the figure. For example:

greatly desire
-or-
want to (New Century Version)

for righteousness: The word righteousness refers to doing the right and good things that God wants. A righteous person has good morals and is honest.

Here are some other ways to translate righteousness:

do what is right
-or-
do what God wills/desires
-or-
do what God requires (Good News Translation)
-or-
do what God considers right

This same word occurs in 3:15b.

5:6b

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” are blessed. They are blessed because they shall be satisfied. For example:

because God will fully satisfy them (New Century Version)

In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:

They will be satisfied. (God’s Word)

In other languages, it will be more natural to put 5:6b before 5:6a. For example:

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied, ⌊so⌋ they are blessed.

they will be filled: The clause they will be filled refers to satisfying or filling those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Like a hungry person eats and is filled, God will satisfy/fill those who desire righteousness. This means that he will help them to become righteous.

Your translation of this clause will depend on whether you literally translated “hunger and thirst” in 5:6a. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

(a) If you have kept the verbs “hunger and thirst,” you may be able to literally translate “filled/satisfied.” Here are some other ways to do this:

• Use a passive form. For example:

they will be satisfied (NET Bible)

• Use an active form. For example:

God will fully satisfy them (New Century Version)

(b) If you have not kept the figures of “hunger and thirst,” you may have to translate the verb will be filled in another way. Here are some other ways to do this:

• Use a passive form. For example:

they will be given the power to do it

• Use an active form. For example:

God will help them to do this

© 2023 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.

Section 5:38–42

Jesus’ followers should not resist a person who wants to do something bad to them

In this section, Jesus continued to explain the difference between the way that Jewish religious leaders interpreted the law of Moses and the correct interpretation of the law. Many Jews believed that the principle of “An eye for an eye” permitted them to personally retaliate in proportion to the evil done to them. But the principle of “eye for eye” was a guideline for the courts to follow so that they did not punish an offender more (or less) than his offense deserved. It was not for individual revenge.

Jesus was certainly against revenge and retaliation. But his teaching went even beyond forbidding retaliation. Jesus taught that his followers must not even resist a person who wants to do something bad or insulting to them. A believer should seek to do good to others, even if they do wrong to him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Seek good for others when they do wrong to you
-or-
Do good to others

Paragraph 5:38–42

5:38a

You have heard that it was said: This clause is the same as in 5:21a, 5:27a, and 5:33a. Translate it here as you did there.

5:38b–c

The two clauses in 5:38b–c indicate that the punishment for purposely harming another person must be the same as the harm caused.

5:38b

Eye for eye: In the phrase Eye for eye, words are left implied to make this saying like a proverb. This phrase means that if a person causes someone to lose an eye, his own eye must be removed. Jesus quoted this commandment from the Old Testament (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21).

In some languages, it may be more natural to include some of the implied information in your translation. For example:

An eye ⌊is the payment⌋ for an eye
-or-

⌊The person who injures/blinds⌋ the eye ⌊of his fellowman must have⌋ his own eye ⌊injured/blinded⌋.

This punishment was the maximum punishment that God allowed. It was a guideline for the courts so that they did not punish an offender more (or less) than his offense deserved. This rule was not for personal revenge.

5:38c

tooth for tooth: You should translate this clause similarly to 5:38b. Here are some other examples:

A tooth ⌊is the payment⌋ for a tooth

-or-

⌊The person who knocks out⌋ the tooth ⌊of his fellowman must have⌋ his own tooth ⌊knocked out⌋.

© 2023 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.

Paragraph 6:22–23

This paragraph is a complex metaphor. It uses the figures of speech of a lamp, light, darkness, the eye, and the body. Jesus used this complex metaphor to teach people that they should focus their attention on what God wanted them to do. If their spiritual eyesight was good, they would understand the danger of being distracted by earthly wealth (6:19). They would clearly see that they needed to serve God with undivided loyalty (6:24).

These verses occur with almost identical wording in Luke 11:34–35, but the context is different. Jesus used the same complex metaphor in different contexts to teach slightly different truths. However, the metaphor itself is the same, so you should translate both passages in a similar way.

Jesus used the singular form for “you” and “your” here, but what he was saying applies to anyone and everyone. In some languages, it may be more natural to use other pronouns here. For example:

22aThe eye is the lamp of a person’s body. 22bWhen a person’s eyes are good, 22chis whole body also is full of light. 23aBut when his eyes are bad, 23bhis body also is full of darkness.
-or-

22aThe eyes are the lamp of our(incl.) body. 22bWhen our eyes are good, 22cour whole body also is full of light. 23aBut when our eyes are bad, 23bour body also is full of darkness.

6:22a

The eye is the lamp of the body: This clause is the first part of the metaphor. It compares a person’s eye with a lamp. They are similar in that both a lamp and an eye enable a person to see. A person’s physical eyes enable him to see where he is going. His spiritual eyes enable him to understand the truth of Jesus’ message.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

The eye is the lamp of the body.
-or-
The lamp of the body is the eye.

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The eyes are like a lamp for the body (Good News Translation)

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the similarity between the eye and the lamp. For example:

The eye is ⌊like⌋ a lamp ⌊that illuminates/lights⌋ the body.
-or-
Your eyes are ⌊like⌋ a lamp. ⌊They let light⌋ enter your mind.

• You may want to add a footnote to explain what the Jews understood about the eye, the mind, and the body. A sample footnote is:

In the time of Jesus, people considered the eye to be a source of light. They thought that the eye was the part of the body that shined light into a person’s mind or heart.

eye: This word is singular, but it refers to a person’s eyes in general. In some languages, it may be more natural to use the plural “eyes.” For example:

eyes (New International Version)

lamp: A lamp was a small clay container that people put oil in. It had a wick that they lit at night to provide light for their house. See how you translated this word in 5:15.

of the body: The phrase the body is a figure of speech. It represents the person as a whole.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The eye is a person’s lamp
-or-
Your eyes are your lamp

6:22b

In Greek, this clause begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “so” (English Standard Version) or “therefore” (Revised Standard Version). This word introduces the next step in Jesus’ reasoning. It indicates that the following statements are based on the comparison of the eye to a lamp. This word does not occur in the parallel passage in Luke 11:34b.

Many English versions leave this relationship implied. For example, the Berean Standard Bible and New International Version say:

If your eyes are good (New International Version)

Express this relationship in a natural way in your language.

If your eyes are good: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eyes are good means that the person has good eyesight. He can see clearly. Figuratively, it means that the person has good spiritual eyesight. He can see/understand the truth about God and is able to focus his thoughts clearly on the truth. He has a good attitude toward Jesus and is willing to receive Jesus’ message. In the context of not storing up earthly wealth, it probably also implies that the person has a generous attitude toward others.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

If your eyes are good (New Century Version)
-or-
If you have clear/strong eyesight
-or-
If you can see clearly/well

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the figurative meaning of healthy eyes explicit. For example:

⌊A person who is willing to receive my teaching is like⌋ someone with good/healthy eyes. If your ⌊thinking⌋ is like that,

In some languages, it will be good to explain the figurative meaning of healthy eyes in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

A healthy eye represents a good attitude or clear thinking. A person who thinks clearly about God and money will not be greedy. He will be generous with others.

6:22c

your whole body will be full of light: This clause means that light enters the inside of the body from the eye and lights up the entire person. Here, the meaning of this figure of speech is that the person will fully understand the truth and will be filled with goodness.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the inside of your body will be lit
-or-
there will be light in the whole body

-or-

⌊it is as if⌋ your entire mind/being will be illuminated

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the figurative meaning of light explicit. For example:

⌊you will completely understand the truth. It will be as if⌋ your whole body is illuminated.

© 2023 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.

7:20

So then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So then introduces the conclusion to this paragraph.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

So (God’s Word)
-or-
Therefore

by their fruit you will recognize them: In Greek, this clause is the same as in 7:16. You should translate it in a similar way. For example:

you will know the false prophets by what they do (Good News Translation)

-or-

when you see what they do, you will know who they are

© 2023 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.

Section 8:23–27

Jesus commanded a storm to stop

In this section Jesus performed the miracle of stopping the winds from blowing and of calming the waves. This showed that he had power over nature.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus calmed a storm ⌊on the lake⌋
-or-
Jesus stopped the wind and waves
-or-
Jesus demonstrated his power over storms/nature

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:35–41 and Luke 8:22–25.

Paragraph 8:23–25

8:23a

In the Greek, 8:23a begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “and” (English Standard Version). It indicates that this section continues the story from 8:18 where Jesus commanded his disciples to get ready to cross the lake.

Here is another way to begin this section:

Then (New International Version)

When He got into the boat: This boat was a fishing boat that may have had a sail. It was big enough for Jesus and his twelve disciples to sit inside.

This same word occurs in 4:21d. See the note there for more information.

8:23b

His disciples followed Him: The verb followed indicates that the disciples entered into the boat with Jesus, then began to travel with him across the lake.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

his disciples followed him ⌊into the boat⌋
-or-
his disciples got into the boat with him ⌊and they began to cross the lake⌋

-or-

his disciples followed him ⌊and also got into the boat⌋ ⌊and together they started crossing the lake⌋

© 2023 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.

9:21a

The Greek of 9:21a begins with a word that is often translated as “for.” It introduces the reason for the woman touching Jesus’ clothes. She touched Jesus clothes (9:20b), for/because she thought she would be healed (9:21).

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

because
-or-
The reason she did this was because

The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions do not translate this word and allow the context to imply the connection.

She said to herself: The words said to herself probably means that she thought the words rather than spoke them aloud.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

she was saying to herself (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
she was thinking (New Jerusalem Bible)

If only I touch His cloak: The woman believed that she would be healed just by touching Jesus’ clothes. She thought that it was not necessary to touch Jesus’ body to be healed. She also thought that Jesus did not need to say something or touch her for her to be healed.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If I can just touch his clothes (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Even if I only touch his clothes

9:21b

I will be healed: This clause is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

I will be made well (English Standard Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ will heal me

General Comment on 9:21

In some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

She thought that if she only touched his coat, she would become well.

General Comment on 9:20–21

The woman was saying those things to herself before she touched Jesus’ clothes. In some languages, it may be more natural to place 9:21a–b before 9:20b. For example:

20aA woman with a bleeding sickness for twelve years was there. 21aShe was saying to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, 21bI will get well!” 20b⌊So⌋ she came close behind Jesus and touched the edge of his robe.

© 2023 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.

10:15a

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words Truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some other ways to show this emphasis:

• As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:

I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:

• As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:

It will certainly be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here. See how you translated this clause in 6:16d and 8:10c.

10:15b

it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town: This sentence compares two things. It talks about the punishment that God will give to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and compares it to the punishment that God will give to the people of the town that does not receive the disciples. Jesus said that the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah will be more bearable than the punishment of that town. This means God will punish the people of Sodom and Gomorrah less than he will punish the people of a town that rejected his disciples. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah will suffer less.

Here are some other ways to translate this comparison:

on the Judgment Day it will be better for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah than for the people of that town (New Century Version)
-or-
on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah than to the people of that town (Good News Translation)
-or-
on Judgment Day, the punishment that ⌊God⌋ will give that town will surpass the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah

Sodom and Gomorrah: The words Sodom and Gomorrah are the names of two towns. God destroyed these two towns and their people because of their many sins (Genesis 19). If people in your area are not familiar with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, you may want to include some implied information in the text or in a footnote. For example:

⌊the very sinful people of⌋ ⌊the towns of⌋ Sodom and Gomorrah

on the day of judgment: This phrase refers to the time when God will judge all people for the things they have said and done on earth.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

on the day that ⌊God⌋ judges ⌊all people⌋

-or-

at the time when ⌊God⌋ judges ⌊everyone⌋

that town: This phrase refers to the town spoken of in 10:14b. It is the town whose people reject Jesus’ disciples. Make sure that the reference is clear in your translation. The example below puts the phrase that town before the phrase Sodom and Gomorrah:

on the day of judgment, the people of that town will be punished more greatly than the people of the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah

© 2023 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.