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⌋

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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.

12:7a–c

Before you translate 12:7, carefully consider the most natural way in your language to order the clauses. In some languages, it will be more natural to put 12:7b before 12:7a. For example:

bThe scripture says, ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ aIf you really knew what this means, cyou would not condemn people who are not guilty…. (Good News Translation)

12:7a

If only you had known the meaning of: This clause is an “if” clause. Jesus used this “if clause” to rebuke the Pharisees. He rebuked them because they did not know/understand the true meaning of the quote in 12:7b, but they should have understood it. They knew the quote, but they did not understand how to apply it in their everyday lives.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As an “if” clause. For example:

If you really knew what this means (Good News Translation)
-or-
If you had grasped the meaning of the scripture (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Don’t you know what the Scriptures mean when they say…? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement plus an “if” clause. For example:

You don’t really know what those words mean. If you understood them… (New Century Version)

Translate this rebuke in a way that is most natural in your language.

the meaning of: The words the meaning of refer to the significance of the words that follow in 12:7b. 12:7b is from Hosea 6:6. You may want to introduce 12:7b indicating that God spoke these words. For example:

these words ⌊of God⌋
-or-
the following words ⌊that God spoke in Scripture⌋

12:7b

I desire mercy, not sacrifice: This is a quote from Hosea. (This quote also occurs in 9:13b.) It is a comparison of two things: mercy and sacrifice. It means that God considers it more important for people to show mercy to other people than for them to follow the laws concerning sacrifices. It does not mean that God wanted his people to stop offering sacrifices.

In some languages, it may be more natural to express this comparison in another way. For example:

I want you (plur.) to show mercy ⌊to each other⌋. ⌊That is⌋ more ⌊important⌋ than your sacrifices ⌊to me⌋.
-or-
I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices. (New Century Version)

mercy: The word mercy means “compassion” or “concern” or “pity” towards someone else. For example:

compassion (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
kindness (New Century Version)

In some languages it may be necessary to indicate who should have mercy and to whom. For example:

I want you to be merciful to others. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I want people to pity/love others.

sacrifice: The word sacrifice refers to the killing of animals at the temple and offering them to God. God required the Jews to offer animal sacrifices to him regularly.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

animal sacrifices (Good News Translation)
-or-
offering sacrifices to me (Contemporary English Version)

12:7c

you would not have condemned: The word condemned means “judge and call guilty or evil.” The Pharisees condemned the disciples when they said that the disciples had broken the Sabbath law. Jesus said that the Pharisees should not have condemned his disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you would not judge (New Century Version)
-or-
you would not blame/criticize
-or-
you would not find guilty
-or-
you would not decide/say ⌊that they are⌋ lawbreakers

the innocent: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates the innocent means “people who are not guilty of a crime or sin.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who have not broken the law
-or-
these innocent disciples of mine (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

those who have done nothing wrong (New Century Version)

© 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.

12:39a

Jesus responded to the scribes and Pharisees in a way that showed that he refused to do what they wanted. The Greek introduces this refusal with a conjunction that is often translated as “but.”

In some languages, it is not natural or necessary to use a “but” here.

Jesus replied: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as replied indicates that Jesus responded to the scribes and Pharisees. It does not indicate that he was answering a question.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He responded (God’s Word)
-or-
He said to them

wicked: This word also means “bad,” “evil,” or “sinful.”

adulterous generation: The word adulterous refers to someone who is unfaithful to his/her spouse. Here this word is used in a figurative way. Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees adulterous because they were unfaithful to God. They were unfaithful in the sense that they did not obey him and follow him with all their hearts.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

you are people who are ⌊unfaithful to God like an⌋ adulterous ⌊spouse/wife⌋
-or-
you are ⌊like a married woman who is⌋ immoral

• Translate the meaning. For example:

you are not following God
-or-
you do not obey God

generation: The word generation refers to all the people who lived at the same time as Jesus. Here it refers specifically to the scribes and Pharisees.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

the people of this day (Good News Translation)
-or-
you are people who

demands a sign: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demands also means “wants, seeks, desires.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

asks for (New International Version)
-or-
want (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
want to see (New Century Version)

12:39b

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between what the people wanted, and what Jesus would give them. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this contrast with the conjunction but.

none will be given it: This clause means that “no sign will be done” or “no sign will be shown” to this wicked and adulterous generation.

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

no sign will be shown to this wicked and adulterous generation
-or-
no sign will be given to them (New Century Version)
-or-
no sign will be done for you

• Use an active verb. For example:

the only sign I will give them (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
this generation will receive no sign
-or-
you will not see any miracle

except the sign of the prophet Jonah: This clause refers to the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah. He was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days. Then he came out alive.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

except a sign like what happened to the prophet Jonah

-or-

a miracle ⌊that is like the one that God did⌋ to the prophet Jonah ⌊long ago⌋

This clause does not mean that Jonah did a miracle.

© 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.

13:21a

In this verse, Jesus explained the meaning of the seed that had few roots and withered away (13:6b). Jesus explained the meaning by keeping part of the metaphor.

But: Something unexpected happens here. We would expect a person who “receives [the message] with joy” (in 13:20c) to continue receiving/believing the message. But he does not. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this unexpected event with the conjunction But.

Here is another way to introduce this unexpected event:

yet (New Revised Standard Version)

since he has no root: This clause means “this type of person has no roots from the seed/message growing in him.” This means that this person has not allowed the roots of the message to enter his heart/mind and really change him.

Remember that Jesus compared people to different types of soil. And he compared the message to seed. So it is the seed that produces roots, not the person. The person is the thin soil in which the seed grows no roots.

As in 13:6b, this is an exaggeration. It means that the person has not allowed many roots to enter the soil of his heart/mind and really change him.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Make the metaphor more complete. For example:

he has no/few roots ⌊from the seed/word growing⌋ in him

• Translate some of the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

he does not let God’s word grow deep in his heart/mind

• Translate the meaning of the phrase without the metaphor. For example:

he does not let the teaching go deep into his life (New Century Version)
-or-
he does not allow the message to deeply enter his heart
-or-
he does not allow the word/message to really change him

13:21b

The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated and some English versions literally translate as “but” occurs when a pair of clauses is related, and the first clause (13:21a) contains the word “no.” This conjunction does not always introduce a clear contrast. In many languages, it will be better to introduce 13:21b with another conjunction. For example:

so (New Century Version)
-or-
and (Good News Translation)

remains for only a season: This phrase indicates that the person accepts the message for only a short time.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

does not endure (NET Bible)
-or-
receives ⌊it⌋ only for a short time
-or-
he lasts only a little while (God’s Word)

13:21c

trouble: The word trouble generally describes troubles or difficulties of all kinds.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

suffering (God’s Word)
-or-
difficulty
-or-
tribulation (English Standard Version)

In some languages, it will be more natural to translate this noun as a verb. For example:

when ⌊people⌋ make him suffer

persecution: This word refers to “deliberately harming someone,” “mistreating someone,” or “causing someone to suffer.” Persecution occurs when people harass others physically, such as beating them or forcing them to leave their homes and taking their possessions. Persecution also occurs when people say hurtful things.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

oppression
-or-
harassment

In some languages, it will be more natural to translate this noun as a verb. For example:

when people oppress/harm him

The verb form (“persecute”) of this word occurs in 10:23a.

comes: This word can also be translated as “arises.” However, in some languages, it is not natural to say that tribulation and persecution “come” or “arise.” In some languages, it will be more natural to say:

when they have problems and when people are cruel to them

because of the word: The words because of indicate that “because he heard and received the word,” others persecuted him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

due to the word ⌊of God⌋
-or-
because ⌊he received/welcomed⌋ the word

the word: You should translate the word in the same way as you translated it in 13:19a (“the message”) and 13:20b.

13:21d

he quickly falls away: This clause means that the person quickly stops believing the message.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he soon turns away ⌊from the message⌋
-or-
it is not long before he stops believing ⌊God’s message⌋

-or-

he quickly gives up (New Century Version)

© 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 13:53–58

The people of Nazareth rejected Jesus

Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth. The people there knew him and his family. They were ordinary people. So when the people of Nazareth heard that Jesus was teaching and doing miracles, they had difficulty believing that he had so quickly become a great prophet.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Rejection at Nazareth (NET Bible)
-or-
Nazareth does not honor Jesus

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 6:1–6 and Luke 4:16–30. See also John 4:44, 6:42.

Paragraph 13:53–57a

13:53

Verse 13:53 is a transitional verse from one section to another. Some English versions (like the New Revised Standard Version and God’s Word) put this verse at the end the previous section. If the major language version in your area has 13:53 in the previous section, you may want to follow that.

13:53a

When Jesus had finished these parables: This clause refers to Jesus finishing his teaching using parables.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

When Jesus finished ⌊telling⌋ these parables
-or-
When Jesus finished teaching with these stories (New Century Version)
-or-
When Jesus finished ⌊teaching people using⌋ these parables

13:53b

He withdrew from that place: The phrase from that place refers either to the house in Capernaum where Jesus was staying or more generally to the town of Capernaum.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he left that place (Good News Translation)

-or-

he left that part of the country (New Living Translation (2004))

© 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.