13:32a

But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox…”: Jesus was telling the Pharisees to take a message from him to Herod. The message that follows is in the form of a quotation within a quotation. If this is not a natural way to give people a message for someone else in your language, consider expressing one of the direct quotations as an indirect quotation. For example:

Jesus told them, “Go tell Herod, that fox, that I will…”

that fox: This is a metaphor. Many scholars think that Jesus referred to Herod as a fox because he was cunning or crafty. In some languages it is not natural to use a metaphor in this way. In some cultures foxes may be unknown or people may not think of them as cunning or sly. If any of these are true in your language, here are some translation options:

• Supply the point of similarity. For example:

⌊sly⌋ fox

• Use a term in your language for a local animal that is regarded as sly or crafty. Choose an animal that is as similar to a fox as possible. For example:

coyote/jackal
-or-
wild dog
-or-
civet cat

• Change the metaphor to a simile. Use a local animal and/or supply the point of similarity if necessary. For example:

That Herod is like a ⌊sly⌋ fox/jackal! Go tell him…

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

that cunning/sly man

The word “foxes” occurs in 9:58a, but the point of that verse is that foxes have burrows to live in. If you used a general term or a local equivalent in 9:58a, you may not be able to use the same term here.

13:32b

Look: In Greek the quote in this verse begins with a word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Look. It introduces something that is important or unexpected and indicates that the listener should give it special attention. Consider whether there is an expression in your language that has a similar function.

This Greek word is not easy to translate into English in this context, so some English versions do not translate it here. Other ways to translate this are:

Behold (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
See (NLV)
-or-
Listen (Revised English Bible)

Other examples in English are:

Listen carefully
-or-
Pay attention to this

This word was also used in 13:30a, where the Berean Standard Bible translated it as “indeed.”

I will keep driving out demons and healing people: Jesus was saying that he would continue to deliver some people from evil spirits and to heal others from sickness. For some people, he would heal them from sickness by casting out demons from them.

driving out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as driving out is literally “cast/throw out.” The expression driving out demons means causing demons to stop controlling a person. Jesus did this by commanding the spirit/spirits to leave.

Jewish people often spoke of evil spirits 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. Some ways to translate this are:

send the demons away
-or-
exorcize the evil spirits
-or-
free people who were controlled by demons

The term “driving out” also occurs in 11:14a.

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

Some ways to translate demons are:

• Use a general term in your language that refers to spirits that are evil and can control people.

• Use a specific term in your language that refers to a certain type of spirit. These spirits should be able to do evil things. Do not use a term that refers to spirits of dead people.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

evil/bad spirits
-or-
unclean spirits

Be sure that an expression like “unclean spirits” does not imply that the spirits are literally dirty.

This same word occurs in 9:1b. See demon in the Glossary.

today and tomorrow: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as today and tomorrow is used here in a figurative sense. Jesus meant that for a short while longer he would continue to do what he was doing. In languages where this phrase will be understood as two literal days, it may be necessary to translate the figurative meaning. For example:

for a short period of time

If you put the figurative meaning in the text, you may want to give the literal meaning in a footnote. Another option is to translate the literal meaning in the text and explain the figurative meaning in a footnote. This applies also to the next phrase “on the third day.” Consider what is more appropriate in your situation.

13:32c–33a

It is difficult to tell exactly at what point Jesus completed his message to Herod. There are two opinions about this:

(1) Jesus completed his message to Herod at the end of 13:32c. In 13:33a he began to speak to the Pharisees again. For example:

32‘…on the third day I shall finish my work.’ 33Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem. (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

(2) Jesus completed his message to Herod at the end of 13:33. For example:

32‘…and the third day I finish my course. 33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

Notice that English versions indicate the difference in these interpretations only by where they place the single quotation marks to end the quote. If, instead of quote marks, you use an indirect quotation here as the God’s Word and New Living Translation (2004) do, the end of Jesus’ message to Herod may be ambiguous. That is also very acceptable.

13:32c

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and introduces what will happen next in a series of events. Connect this event to the others in a natural way in your language.

on the third day: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on the third day would literally refer to “the day after tomorrow,” that is, to two days after the day when Jesus was speaking. However, the phrase is used figuratively here to refer to the time after the short period of time indicated by “today and tomorrow” in 13:32b. In some languages it may be necessary to translate the figurative meaning. For example:

soon
-or-
not long after that

I will reach My goal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I will reach My goal is literally “I-will-be-finished.” This can refer to finishing a task, reaching a goal, or accomplishing a purpose. Jesus was probably referring both to his work of casting out demons and healing people and to his final work of dying on the cross to save people from their sins. You should translate in a general way if possible and not specify one task or goal. Other ways to translate this include:

I finish my course (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I shall finish my work (Good News Translation)
-or-
I will accomplish my purpose (New Living Translation (2004))

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
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.