Paragraph 11:45–52

11:45a

One of the experts in the law: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as experts in the law refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the Jewish law. This included the laws that God gave to Moses as well as the “oral law” that the Jewish religious leaders had added over time.

This word is sometimes translated as:

lawyer (Revised Standard Version)

However, the function of a lawyer today is quite different from the function of an “expert in the law” in Jesus’ time. The main function of the experts in the law was to teach the laws of Moses. This function should be in focus in your translation of this term. Some other ways to translate this term are:

teachers of the Law of Moses
-or-
teachers of religious law
-or-
experts on the law

This same word occurs in 10:25a. See expert in the law in the Glossary.

told Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as told is literally “answered.” However, the man was not answering a question. He was offended by what Jesus had said about the Pharisees. He spoke up in response to Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees. Some other ways to translate this word are:

said to him (Good News Translation)
-or-
spoke up (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
responded

11:45b

Teacher: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Teacher was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. In some languages the appropriate way to address a religious teacher may be:

Sir Teacher
-or-
Sir
-or-
Master

Be careful not to use a term that can refer only to a school teacher.

Consider what term of respect people use in your area for religious teachers who are leaders. It may be appropriate to use a term other than Teacher if you would naturally use a different term of address.

In some languages, a person shows respect by a blessing rather than a term. For example “May God add to your days.”

This word Teacher also occurs in 10:25c–d.

when You say these things, You insult us as well: Most of the experts in the law were also Pharisees. So what Jesus said against the Pharisees would also be against them.

In some languages it may be more natural to use past tense verbs here, because these clauses refer to what Jesus had already said. For example:

when you said these things, you also insulted us

these things: The phrase these things refers to what Jesus had just said about the Pharisees. If you need to make this explicit in your language, you could say something like:

when you talk in this way about the Pharisees

You insult us as well: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as insult means “criticize or speak badly of someone in a way that dishonors or offends them.” Another way to translate this clause is:

you are also causing us(excl) law experts to be shamed

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