10:22a

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates a contrast. The contrast is between what Jesus told the man to do and what the man did.

Here is another way to translate this:

However

Other translations leave the contrast implicit. Express this contrast in a natural way in your language.

the man was saddened: The phrase the man was saddened means that the man was disappointed at what Jesus said. Use an expression with that meaning. Also, this is a passive clause. If a passive clause is not natural in your language here, you may use an active clause.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

gloom spread over his face (Good News Bible)
-or-
the man immediately went from happy to sad

by these words: The phrase by these words indicates that the man was responding to what Jesus said.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

at this statement (NET Bible)
-or-
When he heard this (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
by Jesus’ response

10:22b

and went away in sorrow: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went away in sorrow means that as the man left Jesus, he felt sad. He felt sorrowful or disappointed because Jesus had not told him that he would easily obtain eternal life. He was not willing to sell all his possessions.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

and he went away sorrowful (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
He went away sad (New International Version)
-or-
and he left unhappily

10:22c

because he had great wealth: The conjunction because introduces the reason that the man went away sad. But there is some implied information here. The man did not want to sell all he had because he loved his possessions. He wanted to keep them more than he wanted to receive eternal life with God. In some languages it may be necessary to suggest this or make some of this explicit. For example:

because he did not want to give away his great wealth
-or-
because it was hard for him to think of selling his many valuable possessions

he had great wealth: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as great wealth is literally “many possessions” (as in the New Revised Standard Version). The Greek word meaning “possessions” is general and includes land, houses, money, jewels, and other goods.

Here are some other ways to translate he had great wealth:

he had many possessions (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
he was rich (New Century Version)
-or-
he owned many things

General Comment on 10:22b–c

In these verses, 10:22c expresses the reason for the result in 10:22b. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of these clauses. For example:

22che had great wealth, 22bthat is why he went away in sorrow.
-or-
22che had great wealth, 22bso he went away in sorrow.

Paragraph 10:23–27

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