11:3a

If anyone asks: The clause If anyone asks refers to an event that might happen when the disciples went to take the donkey. Someone might ask the disciples why they were taking the donkey. This event had not yet happened when Jesus said this.

Here is another way to translate the phrase:

Someone may ask you

Why are you doing this?: This is both a real and rhetorical question. People might ask the reason why the disciples were untying the colt. They would ask this because they knew that the colt did not belong to the disciples. They would disapprove of what the disciples did. It may be clearer to use an indirect quotation here. For example, the Good News Bible translates 11:3a as follows:

And if someone asks you why you are doing that

11:3b

tell him, ‘The Lord needs it: The words tell him introduce what Jesus wanted the disciples to say to anyone who might ask why they were taking the colt. It may be clearer to use an indirect quotation. For example, the Good News Bible translates 11:3b as follows:

say that the Master needs it

See also the General Comment on 11:3b–c below.

Lord: The word Lord means “master,” or “the one who has authority over others.” See how you translated this word in 1:3b. Also, see Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

11:3c

and will return it shortly: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word again. The versions that follow these manuscripts understand 11:3c to refer to what Jesus would do. He would soon send the donkey again/back to the owners. For example, the NET Bible says:

3bThe Lord needs it 3cand will send it back here soon.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts do not have the word again. The versions that follow these manuscripts understand 11:3c to refer to what the donkey’s owner would do as a result of Jesus’ request. The donkey’s owner would immediately send the donkey to the Lord. For example, the God’s Word says:

3bsay that the Lord needs it. 3cThat person will send it here at once.

(King James Version, God’s Word, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). However, if the national language version in your area follows option (2), then you may want to follow it.

If you follow option (2), you may want to consider putting option (1) in a footnote. For example:

Some Greek manuscripts have the word “again/back.” These manuscripts indicate that Jesus would soon send the donkey back to the owners.

General Comment on 11:3b–c

In 11:3b–c, Jesus told the disciples how they should answer anyone who asked them why they were taking the colt. The words “The Lord needs it” in 11:3b answer the question “why?” The words “and will send it back here shortly” in 11:3c do not answer the question. They give additional information. For this reason, you may need to make these into separate sentences. For example:

3bBecause the Lord needs it. 3cHe will send it back here soon.

© 2008 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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