The Greek that is translated as “astonished” or “amazed” or “marvel” in English is translated in Pwo Karen as “stand up very tall.” (In John 5:20, source: David Clark)
Elsewhere it is translated as “confusing the inside of the head” (Mende), “shiver in the liver” (Uduk, Laka), “to lose one’s heart” (Mískito, Tzotzil), “to shake” (Southern Bobo Madaré), “to be with mouth open” (Panao Huánuco Quechua) (source: Bratcher / Nida), “to stand with your mouth open” (Citak) (source: Stringer 2007, p. 120), “ceasing to think with the heart” (Bulu), “surprise in the heart” (Yamba) (source for this and one above: W. Reyburn in The Bible Translator 1959, p. 1ff. ), or “have one’s mouth full” (Maan (source: Don Slager).
In Mark 5:20 and elsewhere where the astonishment is a response to listening to Jesus, the translation is “listen quietly” in Central Tarahumara, “forget listening” (because they were so absorbed in what they heard that they forgot everything else) in San Miguel El Grande Mixtec, “it was considered very strange by them” in Tzeltal (source: Bratcher / Nida), “in glad amazement” (to distinguish it from other kinds of amazement) (Quetzaltepec Mixe) (source: Robert Bascom), or “breath evaporated (or “escaped”)” (Mairasi) (source: Enngavoter 2004).
In Western Dani astonishment is emphasized with direct speech. In Mark 1:22, for instance, it says: “Wi!” yinuk, pi wareegwaarak — “They were all amazed, saying ‘Oh'” (source: Lourens De Vries in The Bible Translator 1992, p. 333ff. )
In Low German it is translated as grote Oken maken or “make big eyes” (sometime followed by: un kreegn dat Stillswiegen: “and became silent”) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).
In the Kölsch translation (Boch 2017) it is translated as brummte de Lück de Kopp or “the heads of the people buzzed,” Bauklötz jestaunt, lit. “marvel toy blocks,” and vür Staune de Muhl nit mieh zojekräch or “so full of marvel that they couldn’t close their mouths again.”
In the Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) it is often translated as baff vor staune or “speechless because of their marvel.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)
A man ran up to Jesus, knelt down before him and said:
— You are a good teacher! I want to have eternal life! What do I have to do to get it?
Jesus:
— Why do you call me “good teacher”? In the whole world, God alone is good. You know God’s commandments, don’t you? Don’t murder. Don’t violate marital fidelity. Don’t steal. Don’t cheat other people. Respect your father and mother.
That man said:
— Master! I have been practicing all these commandments since my childhood. I obey all the commandments.
Jesus looked at him. He liked the man. Jesus said:
— One thing is lacking in you. Go and sell everything you have. Give all the money you have to the poor. Your wealth will be in heaven. And when you have distributed everything, come and follow me.
The man was very sad and went away sad. This man had many houses, much land, much livestock. He had a great deal of wealth.
Jesus said to the disciples:
— It’s very hard and difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
The disciples were confused.
Jesus said:
— My children, it is very hard and difficult for such a man to enter the kingdom of God. You know that it takes effort to thread the eye of a needle. Imagine that you have to thread a camel with its two big humps into the eye of a needle. It is very hard and difficult to do such a thing. And it is even more difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
The disciples were confused and began to say:
– Who then can be saved?
Jesus said to them:
The disciples were confused and began to say:
— Who then can be saved?
Jesus said to them:
— If you try to enter the kingdom of God by yourselves, it is impossible. God alone can provide the way there.
Peter said:
— We have left everything and are ready to follow you.
Jesus said:
— I tell you precisely that the person who will leave his brothers, his sisters, mother and father, children, and fields and will be ready to follow me, who is ready to testify about Jesus in front of everyone, such a person even in his lifetime will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, more fields, mothers, children, but will also receive many sufferings, but such a person will have eternal life.
And Jesus also said:
— He who now holds a high position, will therefore be humbled. And he who is now humbled will be exalted!
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Один человек подбежал к Иисусу, пал перед ним на колени и сказал:
— Ты — добрый учитель! Я хочу получить жизнь вечную! Что нужно сделать для этого?
Иисус:
— Зачем ты называешь меня «добрый учитель»? Во всем мире один только Бог добрый. Ты ведь знаешь заповеди Бога? Не убивай. Не нарушай супружескую верность. Не воруй. Не обманывай других людей. Уважай отца и мать.
Тот человек сказал:
— Учитель! Я исполняю все эти заповеди с детства. Я повинуюсь всем заповедям.
Иисус посмотрел на него. Этот человек ему понравился. Иисус сказал:
— Одной вещи недостает тебе. Иди и все, что у тебя есть, продай. Все полученные деньги раздай бедным. Твое богатство будет на небе. И когда ты все раздашь, приходи и следуй за мной.
Этот человек сильно огорчился и грустный ушел. У этого человек было много домов, много земли, много домашнего скота. У него было очень много богатства.
Иисус сказал ученикам:
— Богатому человеку войти в Царство Божье очень тяжело и трудно.
Ученики смутились.
Иисус сказал:
— Дети мои! Такому человеку войти в Царствие Бога очень тяжело и трудно. Вы знаете, что нужно постараться, чтобы вдеть нитку в ушко иголки. Представьте, что вы должны вдеть верблюда с его двумя большими горбами в такое ушко иголки. Очень тяжело и трудно сделать такое. А богатому человеку войти в Царство Бога еще труднее.
Ученики смутились и стали говорить:
— Кто же тогда может спастись?
Иисус им сказал:
— Если вы сами стараетесь войти в Царство Бога, это невозможно. Только Бог один может дать путь туда.
Пётр сказал:
— Мы оставили все и готовы следовать за тобой.
Иисус сказал:
— Точно говорю вам, что человек, который оставит братьев своих, оставит сестер своих, мать и отца, детей, поле и будет готов следовать за мной, кто готов свидетельствовать об Иисусе перед всеми, такой человек еще при своей жизни получит в сто раз больше домов, братьев, сестер, больше полей, матерей, детей, но также получит множество страданий, но будет у такого человека жизнь вечная.
И еще Иисус сказал:
— Кто сейчас занимает высокое положение, потому будет унижен. А кто сейчас унижен, будет превознесен!
The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Jesús miró a los discípulos que vinieron y dijo: “Huy, qué difícil es que personas ricas se junten al reino de Dios.”
Los discípulos estaban sorprendidos y Jesús (dijo): Sí es difícil ir al reino de Dios. Por ejemplo: si tienes una aguja, ¿puedes empujar un camello a través el ollo del aguja? No, es difícil.
En la misma manera es muy difícil que personas ricas se junten al reino de Dios.” Los discípulos lo miraron con sorpresa y dijeron: “¿Cómo puede ser salavdo una persona?”
Jesús los miró y dijo: “Mira, una persona no puede salvar a una persona, es imposible, pero Dios puede todo.”
Los discípulos lo miraron y Pedro dijo: “Nosotros hemos dejado todas las cosas y ahora estamos juntos contigo.”
Jesús dijo: “Les digo la verdad, si algunas personas dejan a sus padres o a hermanos o a hijos, o dejan su casa o la tierra que es su propiedad y se van a predicar y ser testigos de mi, les advierto que seguro en el futuro Dios les dará cien veces más: propiedades de tierra, casas, hermanos, madres, y hijos pero ni modo que las personas estarán en contra de uds y los maltratarán y uds sufrirán y morirán pero después Dios les dará la vida eterna.
Ahora hay personas distinguidos que en el futuro fracasarán y estarán vulgares, y otras personas humildes y vulgares que en el futuro superarán y estarán distinguidos.
Jesus looked at the disciples who came to him and said: “Wow, how difficult it is for rich people to join the Kingdom of God.”
The disciples were surprised and Jesus (said): “Yes, it is difficult to go and join the kingdom of God. For example, if you have a needle, can you push a camel through the eye of the needle? No, it’s difficult.
“In the same way it is very difficult for rich people to join the kingdom of God.” The disciples looked at him with surprise and said: “How can a person be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said: “Look, a person cannot save a person, it is impossible, but God can do everything.”
The disciples watched him and Peter said: “We have left all things and now we are with you.”
Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, if some people leave their parents or siblings or children, or they leave their houses or the land that they own and they go off to preach and witness of me, I tell you that surely in the future God will give them a hundred times more: lands to own, houses, siblings, mothers and children but never mind that the people will be against you and will mistreat you and you will suffer and die, but afterwards God will give you eternal life.
“There are people who are now distinguished and who in the future will fail and become lowly, and other people who are humble and lowly and who in the future will surpass and become distinguished.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:26:
Uma: “Hearing this, his disciples were even more surprised, they said: ‘Ei’, if thus, just who can get good life forever?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When they heard those his words, they were really very amazed/wondered very much and they said to him, ‘Na, who can then get to heaven if it is like that?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when the disciples heard this, they were very much amazed, and they said, ‘If a rich man can’t do it then it is impossible for anybody to have eternal life.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “His disciples were open-mouthed when they heard that and they said, ‘If that indeed is so, who perhaps can-be-saved?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “The disciples were really amazed. Therefore they questioned, saying, ‘Well if it’s like that, that it’s hard for a rich person to be saved/freed, who has big means/ability, well whoever can be saved? Isn’t it so that no one can?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
Instead of pros heautous ‘to one another’ of the majority of modern editions of the Greek text, Westcott and Hort, and Taylor (and Revised Standard Version) have pros auton ‘to him.’
exeplēssonto (cf. 1.22) ‘they were astonished,’ ‘they were amazed.’
kai tis ‘and who’: in this context kai has the meaning of ara ‘therefore.’ Lagrange translates Mais alors? classifying this use of kai as classical and giving further examples from the N.T.
sōthēnai (cf. 3.4) ‘to be saved’: in the theological sense. In the context of this incident all these theological terms have an eschatological reference.
Translation:
For astonished see 1.22, 27.
In general there are three types of expressions used in translating save: (1) those meaning ‘to help, assist, aid, care for,’ (2) those signifying ‘to rescue,’ or ‘to deliver (from danger, or from confinement, e.g. a jail),’ and (3) those which imply ‘healing’ or ‘restoration to health.’ The Greek term involves essentially the latter two meaning, since the same word may be translated either as ‘to heal’ or ‘to save’ depending upon the context. For the most part, words which mean only ‘to help’ have been regarded as inadequate, but as in the case of the Conob, the word which means essentially ‘to help’ may also be used in contexts involving the rescuing of a person from danger. Accordingly, not only be its indigenous association, but by biblical context, the word has acquired certain significant qualities which make it acceptable. In Shipibo-Conibo the term rendering save means literally ‘to make to live,’ which is in many regards very good for it combines not only the meaning of ‘to rescue’ and ‘to deliver from danger,’ but also the concept of ‘to heal’ or ‘restore to health’ – precisely what is involved in the Greek term. In some languages certain metaphorical expressions have been used: ‘to help the heart’ (San Blas Kuna), ‘to take by the hand’ in the meaning of ‘rescue’ or ‘deliver’ (Laka), ‘to lift out on behalf of’ (Huautla Mazatec), ‘to have life because of’ (Anuak), ‘to be healed in the heart’ (Central Mazahua), ‘to save his head,’ meaning to rescue a person in the fullest sense (Baoulé), ‘to come out well’ (Guerrero Amuzgo), and ‘to be helped as to his breath’ (or ‘life’) (Northwestern Dinka).
Though the construction be saved is passive in form, one must not automatically change this to an active in languages which have no passive, for if this is done and God is made the subject, e.g. ‘Whom can God save,’ this would imply a doubt as to God’s capacity rather than the unlikelihood of any person attaining salvation. In such instances one must adjust the rendering so that ‘saved’ will denote a state, rather than the passive of the process.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
They were even more astonished: The phrase even more astonished means “even more surprised than they had been before.” This refers back to the fact that the disciples were amazed in 10:24a.
The clause They were even more astonished expresses the result of what Jesus said in the previous sentence. In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit the reason for this result. For example:
When they heard this, the disciples were more astonished than ever.
10:26b
said to one another: There is a textual issue here:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts have to one another. The disciples spoke aloud to each other. For example, the New International Version says:
said to each other
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, King James Version)
(2) Other Greek manuscripts have to him. The disciples spoke to Jesus. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:
said to him
(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1). But if the major language version follows option (2), you may want to follow that.
Who then can be saved?: This is probably a rhetorical question. It is an emphatic way of saying “If that is true, we do not understand how anyone can be saved!” It expresses the disciples’ surprise at what Jesus said in 10:25. It does not express a strong belief that God will not save anyone.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
How can anyone ever be saved? (Contemporary English Version) -or-
Can it be that anyone will be saved?
• As a statement. For example:
Then we do not know how anyone can possibly be saved!
then: In this context, the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then means “in that case” or “if that is so/true.”
be saved: The verb be saved is passive. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb and supply a subject, you may say:
Who then will God save?
The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be saved means “to be rescued or preserved from harm.” In this context it refers to being allowed to enter the kingdom of God (10:23–25).
In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit what the person was saved from. For example:
saved from being shut out of God’s kingdom -or-
rescued from judgment and allowed to enter God’s kingdom
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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.
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