7:13a

Thus: The Berean Standard Bible and other translations add a word like Thus to help readers understand that Jesus summarized his main point in this sentence. Use an expression in your language that shows that Jesus summarized what he was saying. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible says:

In this way

you nullify the word of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nullify also means “cancel” or “disregard.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

the teaching you pass on to others cancels out the word of God (Good News Bible)
-or-
you have destroyed the authority of God’s word (God’s Word)
-or-
you ignore God’s commands (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you are rejecting what God said (New Century Version)

the word of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the word of God refers here to the commands in God’s law that Jesus quoted in 7:10a–b.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

God’s word
-or-
God’s commands
-or-
what God has said

God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as God refers here to the eternal spirit who created everything. He is more powerful than any other spirit, and he is perfectly good and wise. He deserves to be worshiped. Here are some ways to translate God:

• Use a name or title for God that people in your culture already use.

• Use a descriptive term that fits the truth about God that is revealed in the Bible. For example:

Creator
-or-
Great Spirit
-or-
Ruler of the universe

Choose a term that is acceptable to the believers and churches in your area. For more detailed information, see God in the Glossary.

by the tradition: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by shows that the Pharisees and teachers of the law used their traditions to nullify the authority of God’s message.

Here are some other ways to express this:

for the sake of your tradition (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Your traditions…cause God’s commands to be disobeyed.

tradition: A tradition is a custom. It is an accepted way of thinking and behaving. Traditions can be helpful or harmful. They can be based on beliefs that are true or beliefs that are not true.

If in your culture, traditions are always considered to be good, it may be necessary to say:

harmful tradition

you have handed down: The expression handed down refers to teaching or instructing people about traditions from one generation to the next. For example:

which you teach people (New Century Version)
-or-
you pass on to others (Good News Bible)

7:13b

And: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces a summary of other things that the Jewish leaders did. These things are similar to the example that Jesus gave in 7:10a–13a. Connect what Jesus said in 7:13a to what he said in 7:13b in a way that is natural in your language. See the examples at the end of the next note.

you do so in many such matters: The phrase you do so in many such matters means that the Pharisees and teachers of the law habitually substituted their rules for God’s laws. Jesus had given one example (in 7:11–12). They did or taught many similar things.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

You do a lot of other things that are just as bad. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
And this is only one example among many others. (New Living Translation)

© 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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