20:20a

After He had said this: This clause introduces what Jesus did after saying, “Peace be with you.” Introduce this next action in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

After saying this (Good News Translation)
-or-
Then (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Having said this

He showed them His hands and His side: This clause indicates that Jesus showed his disciples the places on his body where the soldiers had injured him. The soldiers had hammered nails through his wrists (the joints between the hands and arms) and into the cross. They had also pierced his side with a spear. Those actions had left some kind of wounds or scars (marks from wounds), perhaps holes or lines. By showing the disciples these scars, Jesus proved to them that he was truly the one who was crucified. He was the same person who had died on the cross. And he was not a ghost or spirit.

In some languages it may be helpful to make explicit the implied information that Jesus specifically showed them his scars. That would help make clear why Jesus showed them his hands and side. For example:

he showed them the wounds in his hands and side (New Living Translation (2004))

His hands: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hands includes all the hand and wrist (the joint between the hand and arm). When Roman soldiers crucified someone, they hammered the nails through the wrist to hold the person to a cross. They did not hammer the nails through the hand because the nail would tear through the hand. Then the nail would not support the body. In your translation, you may want to use a word that includes the wrists, or refer to the wrists alone. For example:

his wrists

His side: Use the same expression that you used in 19:34.

20:20b

The Greek word that begins this verse is a conjunction that is often translated as “so” or “therefore.” English translations do not translate it that way here, although the idea can be implied by “Then” in some translations. Other translations, like the Berean Standard Bible, leave the word implied.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord: This sentence indicates that the disciples were happy when they saw Jesus. This was because they saw that he was no longer dead. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

The disciples were glad to see the Lord. (God’s Word)
-or-
The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Then the disciples were full of joy because they saw the Lord ⌊alive⌋ .

The disciples: See the note and how you translated this phrase in 20:19b.

rejoiced: It is good to use a strong word that can refer to suddenly experiencing great joy after great sorrow. For example:

were overjoyed (New International Version)
-or-
were filled with joy (New Living Translation (2004))

when they saw the Lord: This clause is more literally “having seen the Lord” in Greek. It refers to the time that the disciples rejoiced, though it probably also indicates the reason that the disciples rejoiced. For example:

at seeing the Lord (Good News Translation)
-or-
because they saw ⌊that he was⌋ the Lord

the Lord: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Lord can refer to a human master, an authority figure, or to God. Here it indicates that the disciples realized that Jesus was God. See how you translated this phrase in 20:2 and elsewhere, for example, 1:23, 6:23, and 11:2. In some languages it may be natural to add a possessive pronoun. For example:

⌊their⌋ Lord

General Comment on 20:20b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the clauses in 20:20b. You may want to say first that the disciples saw the Lord and then tell their reaction. For example:

On seeing the Lord the disciples were overjoyed. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy. (Contemporary English Version)

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