4:6a

There is a Greek conjunction at the beginning of this verse that is often translated as “and.” Many English versions, including the New International Version, NET Bible, and English Standard Version, translate it that way. In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:

The devil said to Jesus (New Century Version)

Connect 4:5 to 4:6 in a way that is natural in your language.

I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory: The phrase I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory means “I will cause you to rule over all these nations and receive their glory and greatness.” The devil promised to make Jesus the leader of the whole world.

authority: The word authority here means “the right to rule people and the power to control them.” It is the power to tell everyone else what to do. The Good News Translation translates this word as:

power

glory: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as glory expresses the idea of the greatness, magnificence, and beauty of the nations. The devil promised Jesus the glory/greatness that accompanies being the ruler of a nation. Here the glory would be even greater because he would be ruler of all the nations. See glory, sense A1(a), in Key Biblical Terms.

You could translate 4:6a as:

The devil said to Jesus, “I will give you power/authority over the leaders of all these countries and all their glory.”

he said: In Greek, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he said is literally “he said to him.” The phrase comes at the beginning of the verse in Greek. You should place these words where it is natural in your language to identify the speaker of this quotation.

4:6b

For it has been relinquished to me: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the reason clause (4:6b) of a reason-result statement. The result is implied. The implied information is “I can do this” or “I can give you this authority.”

Result (implied)

⌊I can give you this authority,
⌋

reason (4:6b)

for/because it has been given to me.

Some ways to translate this are:

• Include the implied information and the with 4:6b. For example:

⌊I can give you this authority,⌋ for/because it has been given to me.
-or-
This authority has been given to me. Therefore/So ⌊I can give it to you⌋.

• Translate 4:6b–c as a separate sentence and leave the relationship implied. For example:

6aI will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms. 6bAll of it has been given to me, 6cand I give it to anyone I please. (God’s Word)

it has been relinquished to me: The phrase it has been relinquished to me means “this authority has been given to me.” The verb is passive. Some ways to translate this are:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

this authority has been given to me

• Use an active clause. For example:

I have obtained this authority
-or-
I have received the power over these nations

Satan did not say from whom he received this authority. Because it is unlikely that Satan would credit God with this, you should avoid something like, “God gave me this authority.”

4:6c

and I can give it to anyone I wish: In Greek this part of the verse is more literally “and to whomever I want I give it.” The devil claimed that he could give the authority over all nations (4:6a) to anyone he chose. (Of course, he did not really have this authority.)

Some other ways to translate this are:

and I can give it to anyone I choose (Good News Translation)
-or-
and I can give it to anyone I wish (NET Bible)

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