Translation commentary on Mark 11:29

Exegesis:

eperōtēsō humas hena logon ‘I will ask you one question’: Lagrange insists that the proper force of hena logon is ‘just one question.’

eperōtaō (cf. 5.9) ‘ask (a question).’

logos ‘word,’ ‘statement’ in this context means ‘question.’

apokrithēte (cf. 8.4) ‘you answer’: the subjunctive here is volitive, with the force of the imperative.

Translation:

Said may need to be translated ‘replied.’

Answer me, and in this type of construction may be treated as a conditional, ‘if you answer me, then I will tell….’

By what authority in this verse can be most satisfactorily treated in many languages as personal, rather than impersonal, e.g. ‘I will tell you who gave me the right to do these things.’

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 .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 11:29

11:29a

When Jews debated, they often answered one question by asking another question. This was what Jesus did here. Jesus knew the answer to his question. He was not seeking information.

I will ask you one question:

Here are some other ways to translate this:

I have just one question to ask you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I’ll ask you a question. (God’s Word)

Jesus replied: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as replied is literally “said.” It introduces what Jesus said to the Jewish leaders. His response is not a direct answer to their question.

The Berean Standard Bible places the words Jesus replied in the middle of what Jesus said. In Greek, these words occur at the beginning of 11:29. Place the words Jesus replied where they are natural in your language.

11:29b

and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things: Jesus said that he would answer the leaders’ question if they would first answer his question. Another way to say this in English is:

If you answer me, then I will tell you…

by what authority I am doing these things: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by what authority…these things is the same phrase as in 11:28a. You should translate it the same way in both places.

General Comment on 11:29a–b

It may be more natural in your language to change the order of 11:29a–b. For example:

Jesus replied, 29b“I will tell you by what authority I do these things 29aif you answer one question.”

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