16:3a

and in the morning: Some words from 16:2a are implied but not repeated here. In some languages it may be more natural to include some or all the implied words. For example:

And in the morning you say (God’s Word)

in the morning: Here the word morning refers to sunrise or soon after.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

at sunrise
-or-
when the sun comes up

16:3b

Today it will be stormy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stormy refers to a rainy and possibly windy day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It is going to rain (Good News Translation)
-or-
it will be a rainy day (New Century Version)

for the sky is red and overcast: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as overcast also means “gloomy” or “dark.” A threatening/gloomy sky is one where dark clouds fill the sky and block the sun.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

for the sky is red and threatening (English Standard Version)
-or-
the sky is red and gloomy (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
because the sky is red and dark
-or-
the sky is red and there are clouds

This clause is a basis/reason for the conclusion that “Today it will be stormy.” In some languages, it will be more natural to put this clause first. For example:

Because the sky is red and overcast, it will be stormy.
-or-
The sky is red and dark, ⌊so⌋ it will be stormy today.

In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

In the morning, you say that there will be rain because the sky is red and cloudy.
-or-
When morning ⌊comes⌋ and the sky is red and overcast, you say that there will be rain.

16:3c–d

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times: This sentence is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for understanding the signs in the sky, but not understanding the signs of that time.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a statement. For example:

You see these signs in the sky and know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that I am doing now, but you don’t know their meaning. (New Century Version)

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

You know what the signs in the sky mean. Why don’t you know what the signs of the times mean?

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

16:3c

You know how to interpret: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as interpret also means “evaluate” or “judge.” Jesus said that his listeners had the ability to look at these signs in the sky and judge/evaluate their meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You know how to judge correctly (NET Bible)
-or-
You are able to predict/tell if it will rain or not rain
-or-
You can tell what will happen

the appearance of the sky: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as the appearance of the sky is more literally “the face of the sky.” The ability to read and understand the signs of the weather is much like the ability to understand a person from their facial expressions.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the look of the sky (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
when you see the sky
-or-
by looking at the sky

16:3d

but not the signs of the times: These words mean that the Pharisees and Sadducees were not able to understand the events of that time. And they should have understood those events. The Pharisees and Sadducees were leaders of the nation of Israel. They were responsible for understanding what was going on around them and what God was doing. But they did not.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you are not able to understand
-or-
why are you are not able to know

the signs of the times: This phrase refers to events that would happen when God would begin to establish his kingdom in the last days. The Jews believed that at that time, God would redeem his people, defeat their enemies, and establish his righteous kingdom.

The Pharisees and Sadducees should have recognized that the miracles that Jesus did were some of these signs. These miracles showed that he was the Messiah sent from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the signs concerning these times (Good News Translation)
-or-
the events of these ⌊important⌋ times

-or-

the events/things that are happening now

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