9:38a

Suddenly: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Suddenly calls readers to notice to something surprising and sudden. Other ways to express the meaning of this Greek phrase are:

Just then (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
And suddenly (New Jerusalem Bible)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce something that is sudden or surprising.

a man in the crowd: In some languages it may be more natural not to specify the gender of the person who called to Jesus. For example:

someone in the crowd (Contemporary English Version)

This may be a good option if it is clear from the rest of the story that this is referring to a man with a son.

cried out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cried out means “shouted” or “spoke loudly.” It implies that the man was standing farther back in the crowd or that the crowd was making a lot of noise. The man had to speak loudly in order for Jesus to hear him. Do not use a term that implies that the man was angry.

9:38b

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.

I beg You: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beg means to ask or plead urgently for something in a humble way. Other ways to translate this word are:

I implore you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
please (New Century Version)

look at my son: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as look at is a literal translation of a Hebrew idiom. The Hebrew idiom means “to help, to be concerned with, to look upon and help.” The same verb occurs in 1:48a, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “looked with favor on.” The boy’s father wanted Jesus to do more than merely look at his son. He wanted Jesus to help his son by casting out the demon. Other ways to translate this idiom are:

do something for my son (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
have mercy on my son and help him
-or-
look with pity on my son

Notice from the following context in 9:41–42 that someone needed to bring the boy to Jesus. So it is probable that Jesus could not “see” the boy from where he was standing.

9:38c

for he is my only child: The clause for he is my only child gives the reason for the father’s urgent request that Jesus heal the boy. If the boy died, the man would have no other child left. Some English versions introduce this reason as a separate sentence. For example:

He’s my only child! (God’s Word)

Express this reason in a way that is natural in your language.

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