7:35a

At this, the Jews said to one another: The term Jews here refers to the religious leaders, particularly the chief priests and Pharisees mentioned in 7:32b. They were talking among themselves, discussing Jesus’ words. See how you translated the term Jews in 1:19 and 7:1. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The Jewish authorities said among themselves (Good News Translation)

Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him?: This is a rhetorical question showing scorn and disbelief (refusing to believe him). The leaders did not ask this question in order to learn the answer. Instead, they were saying that Jesus did not make sense. They did not think that he could go somewhere that they could not find him. The Greek text emphasizes the words that are translated He and we to again emphasize a contrast.

There are at least two ways to translate this question:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Where is he going that we will not find him? (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

• Use a statement. For example:

So he thinks he can go somewhere we will never find him!

Where does He intend to go: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Where does He intend to go is more literally “Where is this one going very soon.”

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Where is he planning to go (New Living Translation (2004))

He: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He is more literally “this one.” It is a different phrase from that in 7:11b, but it also is slightly insulting.

that we will not find Him: This is a purpose clause. The Jews thought that Jesus would go somewhere so that people would or could not find him.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

to keep us from finding him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so we cannot find him (New Century Version)

7:35b–c

Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?: This is a rhetorical question expecting the answer “no.” The authorities did not think that it was probable that Jesus would go to the where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, but it was the most likely explanation that they could think of. This rhetorical question again expresses the leaders’ disbelief.

There are two ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

He is not going to go to the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he? (NET Bible Bible)

• Use a statement. For example:

It seems unlikely that he wants to go to the Jews scattered abroad and teach the Greeks.

Translate this rhetorical question in the way that is natural in your language to express disbelief.

7:35b

Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks: This clause introduces the possibility that Jesus would leave Palestine and go to Jewish communities in other places.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Is he going to some foreign country where our people live…? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live? (Good News Translation)

Will He go: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Will He go is more literally “going very soon.” The leaders were really asking about what Jesus meant. They did not understand him when he said that he would go where they could not find him. They did not think that that was possible. In some languages it may be helpful to make it clear that they wanted to know what he meant. For example:

Does he mean that he will go

where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks: The term where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks refers to the places where Jewish people lived in Gentile countries. They lived dispersed (scattered) in various countries of the ancient world.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
the Jewish people living among the Greek people
-or-
the Greek cities where our people live (New Century Version)

In translating this phrase, remember that the speakers were all Jewish. So it may not be natural to refer to the Jews in the third person. For example:

our (incl.) people dispersed among the Greeks
-or-
where our people live scattered among the Greeks (New International Version)

among the Greeks: The phrase the Greeks refers in general to the Greek-speaking peoples of that time. It does not refer specifically to people from the country of Greece (which was not yet a country). Here it refers to non-Jews in the ancient Mediterranean world. The Jews in general hated them. See the notes on Acts 14:2, Romans 1:8, and 1 Corinthians 1:18, and see how you translated Greeks there.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

among the Gentiles (Revised English Bible)

7:35c

and teach the Greeks: There are two ways to interpret this clause:

(1) It refers to teaching Gentiles who spoke Greek, perhaps those who converted to the Jewish religion. For example:

and teach Gentiles (Revised English Bible)

(New Living Translation (2004), King James Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) It refers to teaching Jews who spoke Greek, the Dispersion mentioned in 7:35b.

Some English translations are ambiguous, the Contemporary English Version deliberately so. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most commentaries and scholars.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

and teach the Gentiles that are there?
-or-
Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! (New Living Translation (2004))

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