7:18a

The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Are you still so dull? is more literally “Then are you also without understanding?” (as in the Revised Standard Version). For the discussion in 7:18a, the Revised Standard Version, which is more literal, is used.

(Revised Standard Version) Then are you also without understanding?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to rebuke his disciples. He rebuked them because not only had the crowd not understood, even his own disciples had not understood him.

There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke.

• As a rhetorical question. For example, the New Revised Standard Version says:

Then do you also fail to understand?

• As a statement. For example:

You also fail to understand like the others!

Use whichever form is most natural to express this rebuke in your language.

(Revised Standard Version) Then: The Greek word that the Revised Standard Version translates as Then also means “thus” or “so.” Here Jesus used this conjunction to emphatically introduce his question. In English, a word like “so” works well here.

You should do whatever is natural in your language to emphasize this rebuke.

(Revised Standard Version) you: The Greek pronoun that the Revised Standard Version translates as you is emphatic. It emphasizes the comparison with the crowd.

(Revised Standard Version) also: Greek word that the Revised Standard Version here translates as also means “also,” “in addition,” “in the same way,” or “even.” The word also compares the disciples to the people in the crowd.

(Revised Standard Version) without understanding: The Greek word that the Revised Standard Version translates as without understanding means “without insight, foolish.” Jesus implied here that the disciples should have understood what he meant. Jesus did not imply that the disciples were not intelligent. He implied that they were not using their intelligence to understand spiritual truth.

7:18b–19c

In the Greek, 18b–19c is one rhetorical question. The first part of the rhetorical question is a rebuke. In the last part, Jesus taught his disciples. The Berean Standard Bible has therefore divided 18b–19c into one question and two statements.

7:18b

Do you not understand?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses a rebuke. Jesus rebuked his disciples because they still did not understand who he really was.

There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example, the NIRV says:

Don’t you see?

• As a statement. For example:

You still do not understand.

Use whichever form is most natural to express this rebuke in your language.

7:18c

defile: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as defile in this context refers to being impure and unfit in the sight of God. See the note in 7:15b.

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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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