16:26a–b

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize something that everyone should know is true. If someone gets the world’s riches but cannot live forever with God, it is worth nothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a question with the response supplied. For example:

Will you gain anything if you own the whole world but lose your life ⌊with God⌋? Of course not!

• As a statement. For example:

It is worth nothing for them to have the whole world if they lose their souls. (New Century Version)

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

16:26a

The Greek conjunction that begins this verse is left untranslated in the Berean Standard Bible, but many English versions translate it as “For.” It introduces another basis for Jesus’ statement in 16:24. There he says that a disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus (16:24). Here he says that that is true for/because he will not profit from gaining the entire world (16:26).

The only thing of true value is eternal life. Jesus gives eternal life to those who follow him.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Because
-or-
Let me further explain

Some English versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

What will it profit a man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as profit means “benefit,” “help,” or “be of use to.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

what do you benefit (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
What good will it do for people (God’s Word)
-or-
what use/help will it be for a person

a man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man refers to a human being. It does not just refer to a male.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a person (NET Bible)
-or-
people (God’s Word)

he gains the whole world: This phrase refers to owning the entire world and everything in it. This is a hyperbole. It refers to being very successful in earning money and obtaining material things.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

own the whole world (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
possesses/acquires everything in the world
-or-
becomes the richest person in the world

16:26b

forfeits his soul: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as forfeits means “loses.”

There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as soul:

(1) It refers to a person’s soul. It is the part of a person that lives even after his body dies. So the phrase “forfeits/loses his soul” is a figurative of speech that means “dies spiritually.” It refers to “losing eternal life” or “losing his life in heaven.” For example:

they lose their souls (New Century Version)

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

(2) It refers to a person’s life (on earth). So the phrase “forfeits/loses his life” is a figure of speech that means “dies physically.” For example:

lose their lives (God’s Word)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In 16:25, Jesus moved from talking about physical life to talking about spiritual life. Here in 16:26, he continued to talk about spiritual life.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

loses his life ⌊with God⌋
-or-
fails to get ⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
does not get/receive life ⌊that has no end⌋

General Comment on 16:26a–b

In some language, it will be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 16:26a–b. For example:

If a man gains the whole world but loses his own soul, it there any profit in that?
-or-
If a man owns the entire world but does not get eternal life, there is no benefit.

16:26c

Or: Here the word Or introduces a rhetorical question that says something similar to the rhetorical question in 16:25a–b. This rhetorical question is another way to make a similar point as the first one.

Normally the word “or” links two things, and only one of them is correct/preferred. Or the listener is supposed to choose one of them. For example, “Did he go to Jerusalem or Bethlehem?” However, in this verse, Or is not used in that way. The response to both questions is “No” or “Nothing.”

Here is another way to introduce this second rhetorical question:

Or ⌊to say/ask it another way⌋

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.

what can a man give in exchange for his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize that nothing can buy true life with God. There is nothing that a person can give to God that would be a fair trade for his life.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

what can a person give in exchange for his life? (NET Bible)

• As a question with the response supplied. For example:

Is there anything that a person can give ⌊to God⌋ so that ⌊God⌋ gives him eternal life in return? ⌊No!⌋

• As a statement. For example:

It is ⌊certainly⌋ impossible for a person to pay ⌊God⌋ enough so that ⌊God⌋ will give him eternal life.

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

give in exchange for his soul: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as give in exchange refers to the way people traded things before there was money. They traded/exchanged one thing for something else of equal value.

Here, Jesus said that nothing has enough value to be an equal trade for eternal life. That is even true if you had all the riches of the world. No one is able to pay enough to buy true life.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there is nothing a person can give in trade for his life ⌊with God⌋
-or-
What can a person trade/exchange to get ⌊eternal⌋ life?

-or-

Can a person pay enough money to buy his life ⌊in heaven⌋?

© 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.

18:3a

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as 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 introduce this:

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

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.

This clause first occurs in 5:18a. It also occurs in 17:20b. You should translate it here as you did there.

you: In Greek, the pronoun you is plural here. Jesus addressed his disciples, not the child.

18:3b

unless you change: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unless you change can also be translated as “if you do not turn.” Here the verb translated as change is used figuratively. It refers to an inward change of attitude.

Here are some other ways to translate the clause:

if you do not turn
-or-
if you do not change your mind/thinking
-or-
You must change your thinking…. If you do not

and become like little children: This clause is a comparison. Jesus told the disciples that it was necessary for them to become like children in their attitudes and thinking. Jesus meant that they should be humble like children. This idea is made clear in the next verse, so you should not put it here.

18:3c

you will never enter: The Berean Standard Bible translates two Greek words as the single word never. In Greek, this is a double negative. This means that the two words make this negative statement emphatic.

Here are some other ways to translate this double negative:

you will certainly not enter
-or-
you absolutely cannot enter

enter the kingdom of heaven: In this context, the word enter refers to “becoming a citizen of.” When people change their attitudes and follow Jesus, they become citizens/members of the kingdom of heaven.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
-or-
become one of those who are in the kingdom of ⌊the one who lives in⌋ heaven

-or-

be added to those over whom God rules

This same expression occurs in 5:20b. You should translate it the same way in both places.

© 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.

18:35

In 18:35, Jesus gave the application of his parable. In some languages, it may be natural to make this clearer. For example:

And Jesus concluded (Good News Translation)

Before you translate 18:35, consider what the most natural order for the parts of this verse is in your language. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 18:35b first. For example:

35bIf you do not forgive your brother from your heart, 35amy heavenly Father will do the same thing to every one of you.

18:35a

That is how: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That is how also means “likewise” or “in this manner.” It indicates that the way that God will treat people who do not forgive their brother is similar to what the king in the story did.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

So also (English Standard Version)
-or-
Like that
-or-
In the same way

My heavenly Father: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

my Father in heaven (Good News Translation)
-or-
my Father who is in heaven

This same phrase occurs in 15:13. You should translate it the same way in both places.

will treat each of you: This phrase refers to the way that God the Father will treat people. He will treat them harshly like the king treated the unforgiving servant harshly.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will do to every one of you (English Standard Version)
-or-
will deal with you (Revised English Bible)

18:35b

unless you forgive your brother: In Greek, the pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your is literally “his” (as in the King James Version). But because the final phrase has “your heart,” the Berean Standard Bible (and almost every other English version) translates it as your. You should follow these versions.

from your heart: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as from your heart is an idiom. It means that your forgiveness should be sincere. It should be true forgiveness. Use a word or phrase that best describes that in your language.

Here are some other ways to say this in English:

with all your heart (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

sincerely (God’s Word)

20:2a

He agreed to pay them: The laborers were employed for only one day at a time. So each time that a landowner wanted workers, he would discuss with them and agree upon a wage for that particular day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He made an agreement with the workers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
After agreeing with the laborers for (English Standard Version)
-or-
The man agreed to pay the workers (New Century Version)

a denarius for the day: A denarius was a Roman coin made of silver. It was the usual wage for a full day of work on a farm.

The plural form of this word occurs in 18:28. Translate it here in the same way you did there.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Transliterate the Greek word denarius and add a descriptive phrase. For example:

a denarius money/coin

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

a silver coin (Good News Translation)

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

the usual amount for a day’s work (Contemporary English Version)

To help your readers understand what is going on here, you may wish to add a footnote such as this:

A denarius was a Roman silver coin. It was the usual wage for a full day’s work.

20:2b

sent them into his vineyard: This clause implies that the master first described the work that he wanted the laborers to do. Then he sent them to do it.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

he sent them to work in his vineyard (God’s Word)

© 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.

20:34a

Moved with compassion, Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Moved with compassion comes from a noun that refers to a person’s intestines. As with many other cultures in the world, Greek culture considered a person’s intestines as the place of strong emotion. In this context, the emotion is pity or compassion. Jesus felt sorry for the blind people. Consider how this sort of emotion is expressed in your language and translate in that way. Here are some English examples:

Jesus’ heart was filled with pity/compassion for them
-or-
Jesus’ heart went out to them

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Jesus pitied them and
-or-
Jesus felt sorry for them and (Contemporary English Version)

This word also occurs in 18:27a.

touched their eyes: This clause probably indicates that Jesus touched their eyelids with his fingers or placed his hand over their eyes.

20:34b

and at once: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at once means that as soon as Jesus touched their eyes, they could see.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Instantly (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
immediately (English Standard Version)

they received their sight: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as received their sight:

(1) It means that they were able to see again. This implies that when they were born, they were able to see. Then later they became blind. So, when Jesus healed them, they were able to see again. For example:

they regained their sight (New Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) It means that they were able to see for the first time. This implies that they had been born blind. So, when Jesus healed them, they were able to see for the first time.

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

• Use a specific term that means “see again.” For example:

their sight returned (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
they were able to see again

• Use a more general expression that means “see.” For example:

they were able to see (Good News Translation)

20:34c

and followed Him: The verb followed is the same verb as in 20:29. You should translate it the same way in both places.

22:32a

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob: The Greek phrase that the English Standard Version translates as the God of Abraham means that Abraham is one whom God loved and took care of. It also means that he is the God whom Abraham worshipped and believed in.

Here are some other ways to translate these clauses:

I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (God’s Word)

This is a quotation from Exodus 3:6. You may want to include a footnote to indicate that.

22:32b

He is not God of the dead: The phrase the dead refers to people who have died. Here is another way to translate this clause:

He is not the God of dead people

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the people whom God is not the God of, and the people whom he is the God of.

Here are some ways to translate this contrast:

• With the conjunction “but.”

• With a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of contrast. For example:

rather
-or-
instead

• With no conjunction. Some versions change the order of the two clauses in 22:32b, then use no conjunction. For example:

He is the God of the living, not of the dead. (Good News Translation)

of the living: The phrase of the living refers to people who are alive.

In some languages, it may be natural to repeat the phrase “the God of.” For example:

he is the God of people who are alive

© 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.

1:21b

you are to give Him the name Jesus: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you are to give Him the name Jesus means “name him Jesus.” This clause is future tense with the force of a command. Some languages may be able to use the future tense in the same way. Other languages will need to translate this clause simply as a command.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

name him Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you are to name him Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you must name him Jesus

Jesus: The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua.” This Hebrew name means “the Lord saves.” In order for people to understand 1:21c, they must understand the meaning of Jesus.

Here are some ways to explain the meaning:

• Include the meaning in your translation. For example:

you will name him Jesus (which means the Lord saves)

• Put the meaning in a footnote. A sample footnote is:

The name Jesus means “the Lord saves.”

1:21c

because: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because introduces the basis for the angel’s command to name the baby “Jesus.” The name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.” Joseph should name him Jesus (the Lord saves) because he will save his people. The name Jesus fits his purpose in life.

In some languages, it is more natural to put 1:21c before 1:21b. See the General Comment below for translation advice.

He: The pronoun He is emphasized in Greek. If there is a natural way in your language to emphasize this pronoun, you may want to do so.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

it is he who (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
he is the one who (New Jerusalem Bible)

will save His people from their sins: The word save refers to rescuing from harm. Sinning separates people from God, but Jesus rescues believers from that separation and brings them back to God.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

deliver/rescue his people from their sins
-or-
liberate his people from ⌊the guilt and power of⌋ their sins

His people: The phrase His people refers to the people of Israel. Do not translate this phrase simply as “people.”

Another way to translate this phrase is:

his own people

from their sins: The word sins refers to offenses against God or another person. Sins include acts, thoughts, and attitudes that are not what God wants or approves. A person can also offend God by not doing what God wants him to do.

Try to translate sins with a general term that can include any wrongdoing against God. Here are problems to avoid:

(a) The term should not imply that only serious crimes like murder or stealing are sins. Other offenses like gossip and greed are also sins.

(b) The term should not include accidents or mistakes that are not against God’s will.

Here are some other ways to translate sins:

Wrong acts
-or-
evil/bad deeds

-or-

offenses ⌊against God⌋

General Comment on 1:21b–c

In some languages, it is more natural to have the basis of the command (1:21c) before the command (1:21b). For example:

21cHe will save his people from their sins, 21bthat is why you shall name him Jesus.

© 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.

3:5a–b

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan: This phrase is literally “Then came out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.” For example:

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him (English Standard Version)

In the Greek, the words Jerusalem, Judea, and Jordan are used in a figurative way to refer to the people of those places. In many languages, it is more natural to refer to the people from these areas.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Many people from ⌊the city of⌋ Jerusalem and all ⌊the district of⌋ Judea and from the Jordan River valley went to John

went out to him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went out to probably indicates that people went to see John over a period of time. People may have gone to see him over a period of weeks or months. (Some people went one day, other people went the next day, and still other people went the following day, and so on.) They went to see him and to listen to him preach.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

were going (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
continued going out to ⌊see⌋ him ⌊and listen to him⌋

all Judea: The word Judea refers to a district or province. The phrase all Judea refers to all the areas in the district of Judea.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the whole province of Judea (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊they also came from⌋ all ⌊the regions of⌋ Judea

the whole region around the Jordan: The phrase the whole region around the Jordan refers to the land on both sides of the Jordan River. This land was outside of the district of Judea. People from the areas along the Jordan River also went to see John.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all the area around the Jordan River (New Century Version)

-or-

⌊they also came⌋ from the land on both sides of the Jordan River

© 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.