Paragraph 22:19–20
In these verses Jesus gave bread and wine from the Passover meal a new meaning. He revealed to his disciples that he would soon sacrifice himself for them and for all the people of the world. This meal began the Christian custom of observing the Lord’s supper regularly.
22:19a
And He took the bread: The clause And He took the bread indicates that Jesus took bread from the table. The verb took was also used in 22:17 of taking the wine. It probably implies that he lifted the bread from the table instead of receiving it from someone. Translate it in a similar way as you translated 22:17a. For example:
Jesus took some bread in his hands (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Jesus took bread ⌊from the table⌋
the bread: In this context the bread was made without yeast, since that was customary at Passover meals. It was flat and round. In some languages it may be necessary to include a word that refers in general to a quantity of bread. For example:
some bread (New Century Version)
-or-
a loaf of bread (New Revised Standard Version)
22:19b
gave thanks: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gave thanks is literally “having given thanks.” Here it indicates that Jesus thanked God for the bread. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
gave thanks to God (Good News Translation)
-or-
when he had thanked God for it (New Living Translation (1996))
22:19c
broke it: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as broke refers to dividing or tearing bread into two or more parts. Jesus used his hands to break the bread, rather than a knife. The text does not say whether Jesus broke the flat bread into two parts or into many parts.
gave it to them: After Jesus broke the bread, he distributed it among the disciples so that each of them could eat part of it. In some languages it may be necessary to specify that he gave it to them to eat. For example:
He gave/passed/handed it…to them…⌊to eat⌋ (Translator’s Reference Translation)
22:19d
saying: In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that Jesus was speaking to the disciples. It may also be more natural to start a new sentence here. For example:
He said to them
This is My body: The word This refers to the bread that Jesus gave to his disciples. Here is another way to translate this:
This ⌊bread⌋ is My body (Translator’s Reference Translation)
Churches have different views about exactly what the words This is My body imply. Because of this, it is probably best to translate in a literal way.
My body, given for you: In this context the term My body refers to Jesus’ living body. It does not refer to his dead body or corpse. The phrase given for you implies that Jesus will sacrifice his life for them by dying for them. In this context of Passover, it implies that Jesus will die so that they can be saved. In some languages there may be a special idiom to use when a person says that he will die a sacrificial death for someone.
Some other ways to translate My body, given for you are:
my body, which is/will-be-offered for you
-or-
My body which will be sacrificed for you (Translator’s Reference Translation)
The verb given is passive. In some languages it is necessary to translate the phrase with an active verb. For example:
my body, which I offer as a sacrifice on your behalf
-or-
my body, which I will give for your sakes
-or-
This bread that I offer to you, this is my body that I offer to redeem you.
for you: The phrase for you means “for your benefit” or “on your behalf.” In this context it has the special meaning “as a sacrifice for you” or “to save/redeem you.” The phrase for you also occurs in 22:20 about Jesus’ blood poured out for them. See the translation examples in the note above.
you: The word you refers to the apostles and also to all people who will trust in Jesus. The apostles represent all of God’s people.
22:19e
do this in remembrance of Me: In this context Jesus used the phrase do this to indicate that his disciples should establish the action in this verse as a custom. They should eat unleavened bread together in a special ceremony to remember Jesus with honor and gratitude. They would especially remember the sacrifice that he made to save them.
Some other ways to translate Jesus’ instruction here are:
Do this to remember me. (God’s Word)
-or-
Do this custom in order to remember me.
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