13:17a

For: Verse 13:17 explains how the disciples are blessed (13:16). The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Here is another way to translate this:

⌊You are blessed⌋ because

Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some ways to show this emphasis:

• As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:

I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:

• As a phrase at the end of Jesus’ statement. For example:

many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it…. That is the truth.

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here. See how you translated this clause in 11:11a.

13:17b

many prophets and righteous men: The phrase righteous men refers to people who live by God’s standards. They do what is right and good in God’s sight.

Here are some other ways to translate righteous men:

people who do what is right
-or-
good people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
people who obey God’s laws

longed to see: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as longed means “greatly desired.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

wanted very much to see (Good News Translation)
-or-
were eager to see (Contemporary English Version)

what you see: The words what you see refer to the deeds of Jesus. God told prophecies about what the Christ would do, and prophets and righteous people wanted to see the Christ and his deeds.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

the things that you now see (New Century Version)

13:17c

but did not see it: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between what the prophets wanted to see (13:17b), and what they actually saw (13:17c). Some English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction but. Other translations leave the contrast implicit. For example:

and did not see it (English Standard Version)

13:17d

and to hear what you hear: The words what you hear refer to the things/words that Jesus said.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear (New Century Version)
-or-
and hear the words that you hear

but did not hear it: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between what the people wanted to hear, and what they actually heard. Some English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, indicate this contrast with the conjunction but.

General Comment on 13:17

In some languages, it will be natural to put the phrases “see what you see” and “hear what you hear” together. For example:

bMany prophets and good people were eager to see what you see dand to hear what you hear. aBut I tell you that cthey did not see dor hear. (Contemporary English Version)

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