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Mark 11 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33
OET (OET-LV) And whenever you_all_may_be_standing praying, be_forgiving if you_all_are_having anything against anyone, in_order_that the father of_you_all, who is in the heavens may_ also, _forgive to_you_all the transgressions of_you_all.
OET (OET-RV) Whenever you are standing praying, if you have something against someone, be sure to forgive them so that your father in heaven can also forgive your shortcomings.”
The events in this section took place the morning after Jesus chased the merchants from the temple. On his way to Jerusalem the previous day, Jesus had spoken to a fig tree. He had said that no one would ever eat fruit from it again (11:12–14). In this section, 11:20–26, it was the next day. Jesus and his disciples were again walking from Bethany back to Jerusalem. They saw the same fig tree, which was now completely withered. It had died.
Jesus used the withered fig tree as an example to teach his disciples to trust God to do great things.Commentators think that what happened to the fig tree had a deeper meaning. The various interpretations include:(1) The withering of the fig tree at Jesus’ command was a symbol of God’s judgment on Jerusalem and the temple. (Kaiser, Evans page 182) thinks the judgment was of the temple.) France (page 444) mentions this interpretation but disagrees with it. That indicates that it might be good to check Kaiser on this matter, too.(2) The withering of the fig tree at Jesus’ command was a symbol of the coming judgment of Israel. It doesn’t seem necessary to give so much support for this. Lane (page 406) writes in his commentary: “Mark may have had in mind the passage from Hosea 9:16: The people of Israel are stricken. Their roots are dried up; they will bear no more fruit. And if they give birth, I will slaughter their beloved children. [NLT]”(3) The withering of the fig tree at Jesus’ command symbolized that the means of approaching God through worship at the temple was replaced so that now people would approach God through Jesus. (Edwards writes: “the fig tree thus symbolizes the temple: as the means of approach to God, the temple is fundamentally—‘from the roots’—replaced by Jesus as the center of Israel” page 346) He implied that he was able to make the fig tree wither because he trusted God. He told the disciples that their prayers would be answered if they trusted God. God would forgive their sins if they forgave others.
It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The Power of Faith (NCV)
A Lesson from the Fig Tree (CEV)
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 21:19–22 and Matthew 6:14–15. See also Matthew 17:20, 18:35, and Luke 17:6.
In 11:22–26, Jesus taught his disciples about trusting in God and praying. It may not be clear why he started doing this after Peter’s remark about the fig tree. You should make it clear in your translation that what Jesus said in the following paragraph was a response to Peter’s remark. Jesus used what happened to the fig tree as an example of the great things that can happen when people trust God.
And when you stand to pray,
And whenever you stand praying,
Also, whenever you speak/talk to God,
And: Here Jesus added another important teaching about prayer. Some English versions indicate this with the word And. Other versions indicate it by starting a new paragraph. In some languages it may be necessary to supply a word such as “also” or “moreover.” These may help to make clear that Jesus is now teaching about a different aspect of prayer.
when you stand to pray: The main idea here is pray. The expression stand to pray refers to the fact that in Jesus’ time people usually stood when they prayed. Jesus was not teaching here that a person must stand to pray.
If the word stand causes people to misunderstand the meaning of what Jesus taught here, you should state the meaning more directly. For example, the GW says:
Whenever you pray
In some languages it may be helpful to include a footnote about this issue. For example:
The Greek text literally says “when you stand to pray.” People in that culture often stood when they prayed. In this verse Jesus was talking about praying in general. He did not refer only to the times when people are standing to pray.
pray: The Greek word that the BSB translates as pray means “talking to God.” In certain verses, some languages may use different words to refer to specific kinds of prayer, such as requests, thanks, or praise. Here you should use a word or expression that has a general meaning such as “speaking” or “talking.” Avoid a term that may imply magical or meaningless words.
if you hold anything against another, forgive it,
if you have a grievance against anyone, forgive him, (REB)
stop being resentful toward any person against whom you(plur) have a complaint.
if you feel that another person has done wrong to you,(plur) forget the wrong that person has done.
if you hold anything against another, forgive it: The BSB states Jesus’ command, forgive it, after the condition, if you hold anything against another. In the Greek, the command occurs first, then the condition: “forgive if you have something against someone.” You should use the order that is most natural in your language.
In some languages it may be more natural to express the meaning of if you hold anything against another in another way. For example, the following examples do not express it as a condition:
forgive anything you have against anyone (GW)
forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against (NLT)
if you hold anything against another: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as hold anything against another is very general. It refers to any way that another person may have offended you. It includes anything that a person did that you may resent. It also includes quarrels with another person or complaints about him or her. Try to use a general expression that refers to problems of this kind with another person. For example:
if you have a grievance against anyone (REB)
if you are angry with someone (NCV)
forgive: In this context the word forgive is a command. It means that a person must stop being angry, hateful, or resentful toward anyone who has offended him. The person must also decide not to take revenge for the offense.
Here are some other ways to translate forgive in this context:
pardon
erase the guilt of someone
forget/cancel the wrong/injury
In some languages, the idea of forgive is expressed by an idiom.
so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
in order that God, your(plur) Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
so that your(plur) Father who lives in heaven will forgive your trespasses, too.”
Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures.” (GW)
so that: The Greek word that the BSB translates as so that introduces the purpose for 11:25b. In other words, a person should forgive others (11:25b) in order that God may forgive that person’s sins (11:25c). Use an expression here that introduces a purpose. In some languages it is difficult to distinguish purpose from future result. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use an expression that introduces a result. For example, the CEV says:
Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.
your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well: The clause your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well is similar to the preceding clause “forgive him” (11:25b). The BSB and many other versions make the similarity explicit by translating a word in the Greek text as “as well” or “also.” Other versions leave this similarity implicit. For example, the NIV says:
…your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
It may be helpful to make the similarity between 11:25b and 11:25c explicit. If that is true in your language, you may use a word like “also,” as the NET does.
your Father in heaven: The expression your Father in heaven refers to God. Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives.
heaven: See how you translated the word heaven in 1:11a. See also heaven, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.
will forgive your trespasses as well: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as will forgive can also be translated as “may forgive.” For example, the NIV says:
may forgiveA note in the NET Bible here says, “Although the Greek subjunctive mood, formally required in a subordinate clause introduced by ´na (hina), is traditionally translated by an English subjunctive (e.g., ‘may,’ so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV), changes in the use of the subjunctive in English now result in most readers understanding such a statement as indicating permission (‘may’ = ‘has permission to’) or as indicating uncertainty (‘may’ = ‘might’ or ‘may or may not’). Thus a number of more recent translations render such instances by an English future tense (‘will,’ so GNT, CEV, NLT, NASB 1995 update). That approach has been followed here.”
The phrase will forgive your trespasses as well means that God will choose not to punish you for the evil things that you have done and thought. God will cancel your guilt and treat you as though you have not offended him.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
will also pardon you for your sins
will also erase your guilt
will forget/cancel your sins
trespasses: The word trespasses refers to offenses against God. Trespasses include acts, thoughts, and attitudes that are not what God wants or approves.In Greek, the verb that English versions translate as sin is also a term that is used in archery to mean “miss the target.” When a person sins, he “misses” the target, that is, he fails to reach God’s standard. A person can also offend God by not doing what God wants him to do.
It is helpful to translate trespasses with a general term that can include any offense against God. Here are problems to avoid:
The term should not imply that only serious crimes like murder or stealing are trespasses. Other offenses like gossip and greed are also trespasses.
The term should not include accidents or mistakes that are not against God’s will.
Here are some other ways to translate trespasses:
sins (NIV)
offenses against God
evil deeds
In some languages it may be natural to translate trespasses with a phrase that includes a verb. For example:
wrong things that you have done
Although the Greek word here is different than the word in 1:4d that the BSB translates as “sin,” the concept is the same and you may want to use the same word here.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo
ὅταν στήκετε προσευχόμενοι
whenever (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅταν στήκητε προσευχόμενοι ἀφίετε εἰ τὶ ἔχετε κατά τινός ἵνα καί ὁ Πατήρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τά παραπτώματα ὑμῶν)
In Jesus’ culture, people often would stand when praying to God. Jesus assumes that his readers would be familiar with this practice. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the posture that people assume in your culture when praying, or you could simply refer to praying. Alternate translation: [when you kneel in prayer] or [when you pray]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
τι ἔχετε κατά τινος
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅταν στήκητε προσευχόμενοι ἀφίετε εἰ τὶ ἔχετε κατά τινός ἵνα καί ὁ Πατήρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τά παραπτώματα ὑμῶν)
Here, the phrase you have something against anyone indicates that you have been offended or injured by anyone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you are upset with anyone] or [you have been offended by anyone]
Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
ἵνα
in_order_that
The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. Jesus says to forgive with the goal that your Father who is in the heavens may also forgive you your trespasses. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order that]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν
the who_‹is› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅταν στήκητε προσευχόμενοι ἀφίετε εἰ τὶ ἔχετε κατά τινός ἵνα καί ὁ Πατήρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τά παραπτώματα ὑμῶν)
Jesus speaks of his disciples as if God were their physical father. He means that they have a father-son relationship with God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [your spiritual Father] or [God, who is like a Father to you,]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς
the who_‹is› in the heavens
Here, the phrase in the heavens identifies the location in which God the Father is specially present and from which he rules. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [who is in the heavens]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅταν στήκητε προσευχόμενοι ἀφίετε εἰ τὶ ἔχετε κατά τινός ἵνα καί ὁ Πατήρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τά παραπτώματα ὑμῶν)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of trespasses, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [when you trespass]
11:1–13:37 This section centers on Jesus’ relationship to the Jerusalem Temple. Mark’s geographical arrangement places in 11:1–16:8 all his accounts of Jesus’ teachings and events associated with Jerusalem.
• The section concludes (13:1-37) with Jesus’ second extended teaching discourse (see 4:1-34), now focusing on the destruction of the Temple and the coming of the Son of Man. It is the climax for numerous statements within 11:1–13:37 concerning the divine judgment about to fall on Jerusalem and the Temple (see especially 11:12-25 and 12:1-12).
OET (OET-LV) And whenever you_all_may_be_standing praying, be_forgiving if you_all_are_having anything against anyone, in_order_that the father of_you_all, who is in the heavens may_ also, _forgive to_you_all the transgressions of_you_all.
OET (OET-RV) Whenever you are standing praying, if you have something against someone, be sure to forgive them so that your father in heaven can also forgive your shortcomings.”
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.