10:27a–b

Verse 10:27a–b is also a parallelism. In this particular parallelism, the ideas in 10:27a are repeated in 10:27b using different words.

The parallel parts in 10:27a–b that are similar in meaning are shown here:

27a
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;

27b
what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

In some languages, people will think that the parallel parts in 10:27a–b describe different events. In other words, they will think that “What I tell you in the dark” and “what is whispered” describe different events. And they will think that “speak in the light” and “proclaim from the housetops” also describe different events.

If that is true in your language, you should:

• Indicate that both parts of the clause refer to the same thing. For example:

27aWhat I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight.

27b
⌊I repeat,⌋ what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

• Combine the parallel parts and emphasize it in some way. For example:

What I have told you in secret, you must now tell people publicly.

10:27a

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight: Here, the words in the dark figuratively refer to “in private” or “in secret.” The words in the daylight figuratively refer to “in public.” Jesus told his disciples to announce publicly the things that he had taught them in private.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the figurative language. For example:

the things I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight

• Translate the meaning directly without using any figurative speech. For example:

The things I tell you privately, tell them publicly.

• Explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

Jesus figuratively used the word dark for “privately,” and the word daylight for “publicly.”

10:27b

The Greek of 10:27b begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “and.” It is the same conjunction that is used in 10:26c to connect that verse with 10:26b. It indicates that 10:27a and 10:27b have similar meanings. The Berean Standard Bible omits this conjunction, but implies the connection between 10:27a and 10:27b by using a semicolon (;) at the end of 10:27a. Other English versions translate the conjunction. For example:

and (English Standard Version)

Another way to show this is:

I repeat

what is whispered in your ear: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what is whispered in your ear is literally “what you hear in the ear” (as in the King James Version). This clause has a similar meaning to “what I tell you in the dark” in 10:27a. It refers to the things that Jesus has told his disciples alone in private.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

what is whispered in your ear (New International Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

What I whisper in your ear (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
what you have heard in private (Good News Translation)

proclaim from the housetops: This clause has a similar meaning to the clause “speak in the daylight” in 10:27a. It refers to announcing something publicly.

Jewish houses of that time had flat roofs. People often went up and stood on these flat roofs to announce important messages.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the cultural information and include some implied information. For example:

announce it ⌊publicly⌋ from ⌊your flat⌋ rooftops

• Translate the meaning without mentioning the place. For example:

announce it to everyone

-or-

tell it loudly so that everyone can hear

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