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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
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Mat 10 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41
OET (OET-LV) But whenever they_may_be_persecuting you_all in the this city, be_fleeing to the next, because/for, truly I_am_saying to_you_all, by_no_means you_all_may_ not _finish the cities of_the Israaʸl/(Yisrāʼēl), until the son of_ the _man may_come.
OET (OET-RV) Whenever they persecute you in one city, escape to the next city, because I can assure you that you won’t get through all the cities in Yisrael before humanity’s child comes.
In this section, Jesus gave various instructions to the twelve apostles. In 10:5–15, he gave them some practical instructions for preaching the good news. In 10:16–33, he described the opposition that they would see when they went out. Lastly, in 10:34–42, he described the commitment required to be a disciple and the reward for being a disciple.
You may want to break this long section into several shorter sections. Here is an example:
Section 10:5–15 | The things the apostles should/must do when sent |
Section 10:16–33 | The difficulties the apostles will face |
Section 10:34–42 | The cost and reward of following Jesus |
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus gave directions/instructions to the twelve apostles for preaching the gospel
The Mission of the Twelve (GNT)
Instructions for the Twelve Apostles (CEV)
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.
When you(plur) are persecuted in one village, run/hurry to another village.
When people in one town/place cause you to suffer, run away and go to another town/place.
When they persecute you: The word persecute means “deliberately harm someone,” “mistreat someone,” or “cause someone to suffer.” People can persecute others physically, such as beating them or forcing them to leave their homes and taking their possessions forcefully. People can also persecute others verbally by saying hurtful things.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
treated badly (NCV)
cause to suffer
oppress
This word also occurs in 5:10a and 5:12b. You should translate it here as you did there.
in one town: This phrase refers to any of the towns or villages that the disciples will visit.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in one place (NIV)
in any town/village
flee: To flee means to move quickly away from danger and seek a safer place.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
run away (GNT)
escape
get away from the danger
Truly I tell you,
I assure you(plur),
I tell you(plur) with certainty,
The Greek of 10:23b begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “for.” Verse 10:23b–c is the basis for the command to flee to another village (in 10:23a). Many English versions leave this conjunction untranslated, as the BSB does. In some languages, it will also not be necessary to translate this conjunction.
Truly I tell you: Jesus often used these words to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize.
Here are some other ways to show this emphasis:
As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
I assure you (NLT96)
Listen to this:
Let me tell you this:
As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
You will certainly not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes
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 10:15a.
you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
you will not finish your work in all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (GNT)
I the Son of Man will come before you finish teaching the good news in all the towns/villages of Israel.”
you will not reach all the towns of Israel: In Greek, this clause is more literally, “you will not finish the towns of Israel.” The thing to be finished is left implied in the Greek. The context implies that the disciples will not finish their ministry of traveling from one town to the next to preach the good news to the Jews (10:5–17).
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel (NET)
you will not finish your work in all the towns of Israel (GNT)
you will not finish going and preaching the good news in all the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes: There are many ways to interpret this clause. Here are the main interpretations:
It refers to Jesus’ coming back to his disciples after the resurrection.
It refers to Jesus’ coming to his father at the time of the ascension.
It refers to Jesus coming in judgment against Israel in 70 AD when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.
It refers to the second coming of Jesus at the end of the world.
It refers to Jesus coming to and joining his disciples later on their trip.
There is much debate and disagreement among commentators about this verse. But this clause can be translated well without interpreting it. So it is recommended that you translate this clause literally and not try to interpret it.
the Son of Man: Jesus used the phrase the Son of Man to refer to himself. In some languages it may be necessary to add the pronoun “I” to show that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:
I, the Son of Man
This phrase also occurs in 8:20b and 9:6a. You should translate it here as you did there. See also Son of Man in KBT for more information.
Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns
διώκωσιν
˱they˲_˓may_be˒_persecuting
The pronoun they refers to any person who persecutes the disciples. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to any person. Alternate translation: [somebody persecutes] or [anyone persecutes]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun
ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ
in ¬the city this
The phrase this city represents any specific city, not the city where Jesus currently is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [in a city]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
τὴν ἑτέραν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ διώκωσιν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε εἰς τήν ἑτέραν ἀμήν γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν οὒ μή τελέσητε τάς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)
Matthew is using the adjective next as a noun to mean the next city. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [the next city]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ διώκωσιν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε εἰς τήν ἑτέραν ἀμήν γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν οὒ μή τελέσητε τάς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)
The word for introduces a reason why the disciples should quickly go from one city to the next. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a command, or you could leave for untranslated. Alternate translation: [because] or [which you should do because]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οὐ μὴ τελέσητε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ διώκωσιν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε εἰς τήν ἑτέραν ἀμήν γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν οὒ μή τελέσητε τάς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)
Here Jesus means that they will not finish preaching the good news in the cities of Israel. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [you will certainly not finish preaching in] or [you will certainly not finish working in]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives
οὐ μὴ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ διώκωσιν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε εἰς τήν ἑτέραν ἀμήν γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν οὒ μή τελέσητε τάς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)
The words translated as certainly not are two negative words. In this construction, the second negative does not cancel the first to create a positive meaning. Instead, it gives greater emphasis to the negative. If your language can use two negatives that do not cancel one another to create a positive meaning, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in that way, you could translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [by no means]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo
ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου
until (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ διώκωσιν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε εἰς τήν ἑτέραν ἀμήν γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν οὒ μή τελέσητε τάς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)
Christians disagree as to what the clause the Son of Man comes refers. It could describe Jesus’ second coming; the time when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, which was Jesus coming to judge and punish; Jesus’ ascension to be enthroned in heaven; or Jesus’ appearances to the disciples after his resurrection; or several other events. If possible, express the idea here in such a way that all of these options are possible. Alternate translation: [before the Son of Man comes again] or [before the coming of the Son of Man]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person
ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου
˓may˒_come the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ διώκωσιν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε εἰς τήν ἑτέραν ἀμήν γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν οὒ μή τελέσητε τάς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)
Jesus speaks about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the first person. Alternate translation: [I, the Son of Man, come]
OET (OET-LV) But whenever they_may_be_persecuting you_all in the this city, be_fleeing to the next, because/for, truly I_am_saying to_you_all, by_no_means you_all_may_ not _finish the cities of_the Israaʸl/(Yisrāʼēl), until the son of_ the _man may_come.
OET (OET-RV) Whenever they persecute you in one city, escape to the next city, because I can assure you that you won’t get through all the cities in Yisrael before humanity’s child comes.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.