SIL Translator’s Notes on Mark 2008 – Page 2

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 1:38

1:38a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But is a common connector that is often translated as “and,” as in the Revised Standard Version. Here, Jesus’ reply contrasted with what the disciples expected him to say. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this contrast explicit in the quote introducer, as the Berean Standard Bible does. The contrast may also be made explicit in the quote. See the examples at the end of the note for “Let us go” down below.

Jesus answered: The word answered refers here to Jesus’ response to what Simon and his companions said in 1:37b. In some languages a word like answered or “replied” is only used in response to a question. Decide whether it is appropriate here in your language.

Let us go: In this context, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Let us go is a gentle command or invitation. Jesus implied that he and his disciples should or must go somewhere else. For example:

We should go (New Century Version)
-or-
We must go (Good News Bible)

In some cultures, a person who directly disagrees with what someone else has suggested is considered to be rude. In Greek Jesus’ statement was not rude. Consider how to express it in your language without implying disrespect. For example:

Yes, that is true, but we need to go….
-or-
Yes, but isn’t it necessary for us to go…?

on to the neighboring towns: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on is more literally “elsewhere.” This word refers to somewhere other than Capernaum. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as towns refers to villages or small towns. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby (God’s Word)
-or-
to other towns around here (New Century Version)

1:38b

so I can preach there as well: The clause so I can preach there as well is a purpose clause. Jesus went to other nearby towns in order to preach to the people there also. He did not want to limit himself to preaching to people in one location.

preach: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as preach means to publicly tell people something important. It is the same word that is used in 1:14b. See the note there. In this context, it refers to the same kind of action as “teach” in 1:21c.

If it is necessary to make the object of preach explicit here, you may use the same phrase that you used in 1:21c. For example:

preach God’s message to the people

1:38c

for that is why I have come: This part of the verse indicates that 1:38a–b was the purpose for Jesus’ coming. He came to preach to people in many places, not just to people in Capernaum. It is better not to specify whether Jesus came from heaven or from Capernaum. The place that Jesus came from is not in focus here. If it is necessary to say where Jesus came to, you should use a general place like “here.” For example:

for that is why I came here.

This part of the verse is the end of Jesus’ response to the disciples. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate the end of a quote explicitly. For example:

“for that is the reason that I came here,” he said.
-or-
“for that is the reason that I came here.” After Jesus said that…

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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.

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 2:28

2:28

Therefore: In this context the Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces the result and conclusion of Jesus’ statement in 2:27. Use an appropriate connector in your language. The God’s Word translates it as:

For this reason

the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Son of Man is Lord emphasizes the word Lord. Try to show this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

the Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Son of Man is literally “the Son of the human/person.” It is a title that Jesus often used to refer to himself. It implies that:

(a) he was a true human being, and he represented all people.

(b) he came from God and had authority from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this title:

the Man whom God Sent
-or-
the True Man from God/Heaven
-or-
the Representative of Mankind
-or-
The Older Brother of All People

Refer to the way you translated this title in 2:10a. In this context there is a special connection between the title Son of Man and the statement that “the Sabbath was made for man” in 2:27. You should try to keep that connection in your translation here.

In some languages it may be necessary to indicate explicitly that Jesus was referring to himself here. For example:

I, the Son of Man

Lord even of the Sabbath: The word Lord means “master,” or “the one who has authority.” See Lord, Context 1, in the Glossary. In this context the word Lord refers to Jesus’ authority over the Sabbath day. The word even emphasizes that Jesus’ authority was great. Although the Sabbath was given by God, Jesus had authority over it. There are various ways to express Jesus’ authority over the Sabbath. For example:

I, the Son of Man, am master even of the Sabbath! (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
I, the Son of Man, have authority over the rest day.

There is implied information here. Jesus had authority over the Sabbath in the sense that he had the right to decide what people could or could not do on the Sabbath day. This meaning may be expressed in several ways. For example:

I, the one who became a person, have the right to decide what a person can do on the day for resting.
-or-
I, the older brother of all people, have the authority to say what people are allowed to do on the rest day.

Paragraph 3:1–6

Verse 3:1 provides the background for the story that is told in 3:2–6. It introduces the people in the story and the place where it happened.

3:1a

Once again: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Once again is literally “again.” This indicates that the story in 3:1–6 happened on a different occasion or day than the previous story did. The context indicates that it was another Sabbath day.

Several stories in Mark have happened on a Sabbath day. This is another story that happened on a Sabbath.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

On another Sabbath
-or-
One other Sabbath day

Translate “Sabbath” here in the same way you did in 1:21b.

the synagogue: A synagogue was a building where Jews gathered to pray, read scripture, teach their beliefs, and worship. The Jews also gathered there for cultural activities. There was only one temple (in Jerusalem), but each Jewish community had a synagogue. In this context the phrase the synagogue probably refers to the synagogue in Capernaum that was mentioned in 1:21.

Here are some other ways to translate the synagogue:

the prayer-house of the Jews
-or-
the meeting-place of the Jews
-or-
the worship building
-or-
the house for gathering together

If you make explicit a phrase such as “of the Jews,” be sure that it does not imply that Jesus was not a Jew.

If the word synagogue is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may want to include a word or phrase to explain the meaning. For example:

the sinagog house/building

See how you translated synagogue in 1:21b. You should translate synagogue consistently wherever it occurs. See also synagogue in the Glossary.

3:1b

a withered hand: The phrase a withered hand refers to a hand that is shriveled and small because it is paralyzed or crippled. Some languages would say that this man’s hand was “dead” or “dried.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

paralyzed hand (Good News Bible)
-or-
crippled hand (Contemporary English Version)

hand: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hand includes the fingers, palm, wrist, and forearm. The Greek text does not specify how much of the man’s hand was paralyzed. Probably the whole area from the fingers to the forearm was included.

Each language divides the body differently. If you have a specific term that refers to the area from the forearm to the fingers, you could use that term here. Otherwise, you can use a general term for the hand and arm. If your language requires you to specify which hand, you should say the right hand, as in Luke 6:6.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 3:33

3:33

In Greek, this verse begins with the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “he asked.” The Berean Standard Bible puts the phrase at the end of the verse. In many languages it may be more natural to follow the Greek and put it at the beginning of 3:33. Use an appropriate place for this phrase in your language. For suggestions on how to translate it, see the note on “he asked” at the end of this verse.

But Jesus replied: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as But Jesus replied is literally “and having answered them Jesus says.” This phrase introduces a rhetorical question that Jesus asked the people who were sitting around him. In some languages it may be more natural to use a different verb like “answered” or “said.” For example:

He answered them and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” (NET Bible)
-or-
And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” (Revised Standard Version)

Who are My mother and My brothers?: Jesus already knew who his physical mother and brothers were. This is a rhetorical question that Jesus used to introduce a new idea. The new idea is that people who do the will of God are Jesus’ true family.

There are at least two ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• As a question. For example:

And who are really my mother and my brothers? (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Who are truly my mother and my brothers?

• As a statement. For example:

I will tell you who my mother and my brothers are.
-or-
Let me tell you who is like a mother and a brother to me.

Use the appropriate way in your language to introduce this new idea.

Be careful that your translation does not imply that Jesus or the other people did not know who his physical family was.

General Comment on 3:33

Since Jesus was introducing a new idea, it may be more natural in some languages to express it as an indirect quotation. For example:

Then Jesus told them who his real mother and brothers were.
-or-
Jesus answered by asking them who his real mother and brothers were.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 4:31

4:31

The Berean Standard Bible has reordered the clauses in the Greek text. For that reason, the Notes and Display for this verse use the Contemporary English Version as the base text.

4:31a

(Contemporary English Version) It is like what happens when a mustard seed: This clause It is like what happens when a mustard seed is a type of comparison called a simile. It compares the kingdom of God to what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. 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 contrast in size. The mustard seed is small but the mature plant is large. Like the mustard plant, the kingdom of God is very small at its beginning, but it becomes very large.

Here is another way to translate It is like what happens when a mustard seed:

It is like a tiny grain of mustard-seed which… (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

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 very tiny seed

If you use this option, you may want to combine the information with 4:31a–b to avoid saying the same thing twice. For example:

The kingdom of heaven is like the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

• Use the name of a local seed that is known to be very small, but 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, it is suggested that you 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.

4:31b

(Contemporary English Version) is planted in the ground: The Greek verb that the Contemporary English Version translates as is planted is passive. In some languages you may need to use an active verb and supply a general subject. For example:

you plant in the ground (New Century Version)
-or-
A man…plants it in the ground. (Good News Bible)

(Contemporary English Version) It is the smallest seed in all the world: The Greek phrase that the Contemporary English Version translates as It is the smallest seed in the world is literally: “being smaller than all of the seeds of the earth.” This expression is a hyperbole. It exaggerates the smallness of the seed. This helps teach the point that the kingdom of God started with only a few people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the smallest of all the seeds on earth (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
one of the smallest seeds on earth (God’s Word)
-or-
the smallest of all seeds (New Living Translation)

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SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 5:23

5:23a

pleaded with Him urgently: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pleaded indicates that the man greatly desired what he was pleading for. The same word has occurred at 1:40b, 5:10, 5:12, 5:17 and 5:18b. Here this verb is emphasized by the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as urgently. Use a natural expression in your language for this type of request. Here are some examples:

begged him earnestly (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
pleaded fervently with him

5:23b

My little daughter: In 5:42 the text indicates that Jairus’ daughter was twelve years old. When Jairus called her little, it was a term of affection. It did not mean that she was a very young child or that she was not tall. Use an appropriate term in your language for a daughter of that age. If the terms for “young daughter” in your language imply that she was younger than twelve, you may want to use a term of affection instead. For example:

my dear daughter
-or-
my much-loved female child

is near death: The Greek phrase (A Greek idiom, literally: “to have finally.”) that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is near death means to be very sick and almost dead. You may have an idiom or a euphemism for this in your language.

Here is another way to translate this:

is close to death
-or-
is about to die

5:23c

Please come and place Your hands on her: Jairus used a polite form in Greek for making a humble request. Use a form in your language that is polite and appropriate for this context. For example:

Would you please come…
-or-
I beg you to come…
-or-
I would be most grateful if you would come…

place Your hands on her: In that culture it was common for a healer to place his hands on the person who needed to be healed. Jesus often did this when he healed someone. He might touch the part of the body that needed healing. Use an appropriate way to express this in your language.

5:23d

so that she will be healed and live: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that she will be healed and live is literally “that she may be saved and may live.” She was still alive at the time when her father said this. You may need to indicate this in some way in your language. In some languages it may be more natural to use a phrase that means “continue to live.” In other languages it may be natural to use only one verb phrase. For example:

so that she will be saved from death

she will be healed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as healed is the same word that is commonly used in the Bible to mean “saved, rescued.” In this context, it means “saved/rescued from illness” or “healed.” It is a passive verb. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb, you may be able to translate this as:

she will get better
-or-
you(sing) will heal her

If you have an expression that could be used for both “rescue from sins” and “rescue from an illness,” consider using it here.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 6:13

6:13a

They also drove out many demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drove out is literally “cast/throw out.” To “drive out” demons means to cause evil spirits to stop controlling a person. The apostles did this by commanding the spirits to leave.

Jewish people often spoke of demons as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

sent many demons away
-or-
exorcized many evil spirits
-or-
freed many people who were controlled by evil spirits

See how you translated the same phrase “drove out many demons” in 1:34b.

demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demons refers to spirits that are evil and can control people’s actions. This Greek word refers to the same type of spirits as the Greek terms that are often translated as “evil spirits” and “unclean spirits.”

See the note on “unclean spirits” in 6:7c and evil spirit in the Glossary for more information.

6:13b–c

and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anointing them with oil means that the disciples were putting oil on sick people. The exact purpose of anointing the sick people with oil is not clear. Some scholars believe that the oil helped in some way to heal the sick people. However, more scholars believe that anointing the sick people with oil was a symbol to show that God was blessing the sick person and healing him or her.

Use whatever verb is natural in your language to say that the disciples placed a little bit of oil (probably a few drops) on a person (probably on the head).

Here are some other ways to translate this:

rubbed olive oil on many sick people and healed them (Good News Bible)
-or-
healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. (New Living Translation)

oil: The oil that people used for anointing was olive oil. It was a common vegetable oil from that country. Olive oil was also used for cooking, for burning in lamps, and for treating wounds. In many languages it is possible to use a word here that refers to a commonly used cooking oil.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 6:45

Section 6:45–52

Jesus walked on the water of the lake

This section tells about another miracle that showed Jesus’ power. After he fed the five thousand men, Jesus urged his disciples to get into their boat and go to the other side of the lake. Then during the night he came to them while they were still in the boat on the lake. He walked to them on the surface of the water and climbed into the boat with them.

There are several ways to divide this section into paragraphs:

(a) Two paragraphs (as in the Good News Bible)

6:45–50a

6:50b–52

(b) Three paragraphs (as in the Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation)

6:45–46

6:47–50a

6:50b–52

6:45–52

You should divide this section into paragraphs in a way that is natural in your language. The Notes and Display follow option (a).

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here is another possible heading for this section:

Jesus walks on the water

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 14:22–23 and John 6:15–21.

Paragraph 6:45–50a

6:45a

Immediately: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Immediately connects this story with the previous story about feeding five thousand men. Mark used this word to show that this new story follows right after the previous one. These events began immediately after the previous events.

In your translation, introduce this new story in a way that makes it clear that this is what happened next. Also make it clear that another story is beginning.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Immediately after this (New Living Translation)
-or-
As soon as they had finished (Revised English Bible)

Jesus made His disciples get into the boat: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as made here means “compelled,” “commanded” or “strongly urged.” This word implies that the disciples were hesitant to go. But it does not imply that Jesus had to use force to get them to leave. (Gould pages 120–121: “This language expresses haste and urgency, for which, however, Mt. and Mk. give no reason. But the fourth Gospel states a fact, which would certainly account for this urgency, telling us that the people were about to come and seize him to make him a king (J. 6:15). According to this, Jesus knew that his disciples would side with the multitude in this design, and therefore dismisses them with this abruptness and imperativeness.”)

The New Living Translation has another way to translate this clause:

Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat

disciples: This is the same word as in 6:41d. See the note at 6:1c.

boat: The boat mentioned here is probably the same boat that Jesus and the disciples had ridden in to come to this place. See the note at 6:32 for a more complete description of this type of boat.

6:45b

go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Almost all Greek manuscripts have “go on ahead to the other side to Bethsaida.” For example the New Revised Standard Version says:

go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida

(Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, New Living Translation, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

(2) A few Greek manuscripts have only “go on ahead to Bethsaida.” They do not have the phrase “to the other side.” For example, the New International Version says:

go on ahead of him to Bethsaida

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), since it has the support of the majority of manuscripts. Also, nearly every English version follows this option. (The phrase “on the other side” was most likely omitted in some manuscripts because of the geographical difficulties presented with this reading. Bethsaida was under the rule of Philip the tetrarch, and therefore was east of the Jordan River. (Metzger page79, Blight and Smith page 143))

Bethsaida: The word Bethsaida is the name of a town northeast of the Lake of Galilee.

6:45c

while He dismissed the crowd: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He dismissed the crowd indicates that Jesus sent the crowd of people away. These are the people whom he fed in 6:30–44.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

while he sent the crowd away (Good News Bible)
-or-
while he gave all the people permission to leave

It is implied that Jesus did not get into the boat with the disciples. He stayed behind on the land to dismiss the crowd. In some languages it may be natural to follow the New Century Version and make this explicit:

He stayed there to send the people home.

In some languages it may be natural to translate what Jesus said as direct speech. For example:

…while he stayed behind and said to the crowd, “You may/should go home now.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 7:22

7:22a

greed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as greed refers to “wanting more than one already has.” The word often has sexual connotations. It may also imply that one person takes advantage of another person in order to satisfy his own desires. (Louw & Nida (page 758) define pleonexiai as “exploitation,” taking advantage of someone else out of greed. This is the sense in which the word is used in several other passages that refer to sexual greed. UBS Handbook (page 233), Cranfield (page 241) and Lane (page 257) all mention the connotations of sexual sin, and Hiebert (page 182) mentions self-gratification as a motive for the plural “acts of selfish grasping.”) Most English versions translate this word as in the Berean Standard Bible. If your language has a word or expression that has more of the connotations of the Greek word, you should use it here.

wickedness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wickedness refers to “doing wicked deeds.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

evil actions (New Century Version)
-or-
meanness (Contemporary English Version)

7:22b

deceit: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deceit refers to “lying” and “tricking people.”

debauchery: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as debauchery is a general term that refers to “improper sexual behavior that is done in front of people without shame.”

7:22c

envy: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as envy is literally “evil eye.” This is a Hebrew idiom that probably means here “envy” or “jealousy.” (Several commentaries say that this idiom may refer to stinginess, the opposite of generosity (Wessel page 681, Guelich page 379, Gundry page 356, Lane page 257, France page 293). However, most of these commentaries also say that envy, jealousy or covetousness are alternate meanings. Hiebert (page 182), Cranfield (page 242) and UBS Handbook (page 233) all define the word as envy. Louw & Nida (page 760) give both meanings: “envy” for Mark 7:22 and “stingy” for Matthew 20:15. All versions have either envy or jealousy.) It refers to a person feeling resentful because someone else has something that he wants. It does not refer to casting evil spells.

Other languages also have idioms to express the idea of envy or jealousy.

slander: The Greek word translated slander means to “speak evil about someone,” or to “speak insultingly about someone.”

7:22d

arrogance: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as arrogance refers to a proud and arrogant attitude. An arrogant person considers himself to be better and more important than other people. Other words that express this idea in English are “pride” or “haughtiness.”

foolishness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foolishness refers to doing things that are morally foolish or senseless. It does not refer here to being intellectually stupid. In some languages the idea of moral foolishness may need to be expressed in different ways. For example:

they show their lack of wisdom
-or-
acting foolishly in God’s sight
-or-
they do things without thinking about whether God approves of those actions

General Comment on 7:21–22

Different versions translate the words in this list in various ways. Use the versions to help you find an expression that makes the meaning clear in your language. Many languages will need to translate these nouns as verbal expressions. If you do this, you may also need to use more than one sentence. For example:

21b
They think about doing evil deeds, they do sexual acts that are immoral, they steal, and they murder other people. They marry and then have sex with someone to whom they are not married. 22aThey desire things that do not belong to them, they do harmful things to other people, 22band they trick other people. They do sexual sins without shame, 22cthey are envious, and they speak evil about other people. 22dThey think they are more important than everyone else, and they do foolish things.

Many languages use idioms, metaphors, or euphemisms to talk about some of these actions. Some languages may have one expression that covers two of these terms. Translate these words with expressions that are natural in your language.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 2008

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 1:38

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 2:28

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 3:33

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 4:31

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 5:23

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 6:13

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 6:45

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 7:22

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