Translation commentary on Mark 6:27 – 6:28

Exegesis:

aposteilas … epetaxen ‘sending … ordered,’ ‘sent and ordered’: the sense is ‘sent with orders’ (Goodspeed, Moffatt, Translator’s New Testament).

epitassō (cf. 1.27) ‘give orders,’ ‘command.’

spekoulatora (only here in the N.T.) ‘courier,’ ‘scout,’ and, by extension of the meaning, ‘executioner’ (a loan-word from the Latin speculator).

Translation:

It is important that the sequence of events in the first clause not be confused, for a literal translation into some languages would make the text mean that Herod first sent off a soldier and then gave the orders. This may be recast in such instances to read ‘the king sent off a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head,’ or ‘the king gave orders to a soldier of the guard and sent him off to bring John’s head.’

His must in several languages be made more specific, since the reference is back in verse 25.

Beheaded is simply ‘cut off his head,’ and if the receptor language requires an indication of instrument, a ‘sword’ is most likely.

Brought is ‘carried,’ but in some languages there a number of words for ‘carrying’ depending on the type of object and how it is carried. The term chosen must fit this type of context.

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 6:27

6:27a

So: The Berean Standard Bible uses the connecting word So to introduce the result of 6:26b–c. Some English versions do not use a connecting word here. If it is natural in your language to use a connecting word here, choose a word that shows that 6:27a is the result of 6:26b–c. For example:

Therefore he immediately…

without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner: The words the King refer to Herod so you may need to translate 6:27a this way:

So Herod immediately commanded an executioner to go to the prison, cut off John’s head, and bring it to him.

executioner: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as executioner refers to a soldier. This soldier was ready to obey his commander’s orders, including the order to execute (kill) a prisoner.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

soldier (New Century Version)
-or-
guard (Contemporary English Version)

6:27b

who went and beheaded him in the prison: The executioner went to the prison, and there he cut off John’s head. Some languages have different words for “cut” depending on the instrument used. If this is true in your language, you should use a verb meaning to cut completely off with something like a sword or machete.

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