MARK 11:32 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ἀλλά
2. alla
3. But
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y33
11. 32370
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. -
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. -
11. 32371
1. εἴπωμεν
2. legō
3. we may say
4. we say
5. 30040
6. VSAA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓may˒ say
8. ˱we˲ ˓may˒ say
9. -
10. Y33; R32268; R32271; R32274
11. 32372
1. Ἐξ
2. ek
3. From
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. from
8. from
9. D
10. Y33
11. 32373
1. ἀνθρώπων
2. anthrōpos
3. humans
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····GMP
7. humans
8. humans
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32374
1. Ἐφοβοῦντο
2. fobeō
3. (They were fearing
4. -
5. 53990
6. VIIM3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓were˒ fearing
8. ˱they˲ ˓were˒ fearing
9. S
10. Y33
11. 32375
1. φοβούμεθα
2. fobeō
3. -
4. -
5. 53990
6. VIPM1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ fearing
8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ fearing
9. -
10. -
11. 32376
1. φοβοῦμεν
2. fobeō
3. -
4. -
5. 53990
6. VIPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ fearing
8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ fearing
9. -
10. -
11. 32377
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32378
1. ὄχλον
2. oχlos
3. crowd
4. crowds
5. 37930
6. N····AMS
7. crowd
8. crowd
9. -
10. Y33; F32382
11. 32379
1. λαόν
2. laos
3. -
4. -
5. 29920
6. N····AMS
7. people
8. people
9. -
10. -
11. 32380
1. πάντες
2. pas
3. -
4. -
5. 39560
6. S····NMP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. -
11. 32381
1. ἅπαντες
2. hapas
3. all
4. -
5. 5370
6. S····NMP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y33; R32379
11. 32382
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. because/for
4. because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32383
1. ᾔδεισαν
2. eidō
3. -
4. -
5. 14920
6. VILA3··P
7. ˓had˒ known
8. ˓had˒ known
9. -
10. -
11. 32384
1. εἶχον
2. eχō
3. were having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VIIA3··P
7. ˓were˒ having
8. ˓were˒ having
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32385
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32386
1. Ἰωάννην
2. iōannēs
3. Yōannaʸs
4. -
5. 24910
6. N····AMS
7. Yōannaʸs
8. John
9. U
10. Person=John; Y33; F32393
11. 32387
1. ὄντως
2. ontōs
3. really
4. -
5. 36890
6. D·······
7. really
8. really
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32388
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32389
1. ὄντως
2. ontōs
3. -
4. -
5. 36890
6. D·······
7. really
8. really
9. -
10. -
11. 32390
1. ἀληθῶς
2. alēthōs
3. -
4. -
5. 2300
6. D·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. -
11. 32391
1. προφήτης
2. profētēs
3. +a prophet
4. prophet
5. 43960
6. N····NMS
7. ˓a˒ prophet
8. ˓a˒ prophet
9. -
10. Y33
11. 32392
1. ἦν
2. eimi
3. he was
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIIA3··S
7. ˱he˲ was
8. ˱he˲ was
9. -
10. Y33; R32387; Person=John
11. 32393

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:27–33: The Jewish leaders challenged Jesus’ authority

Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem for the third time in three days. This time the Jewish leaders confronted him directly. They questioned Jesus about his right to do the things he had been doing. They did not believe that God had authorized Jesus to do and say what he did.

Jesus responded by asking the Jewish leaders a question. He asked them who gave John the Baptist his authority. The Jewish leaders did not want to answer Jesus’ question. If they answered, they would either appear to agree that God had sent John the Baptist or show that they did not believe that God sent him. So they refused to answer. Jesus then refused to answer their question, because he knew that they would not accept his answer.

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 Authority of Jesus (NET)

A Question about Jesus’ Authority (CEV)

Leaders Doubt Jesus’ Authority (NCV)

The Jewish leaders did not believe that Jesus came with God’s authority

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 21:23–27 and Luke 20:1–8.

11:32a

But if we say, ‘From men’...”

But if we^(incl) say, ‘From men,’ then what?”
But if we say that John baptized only with authority from humans, what would happen?”
But we cannot say that John’s authority came only from people.”

The Jewish leaders considered another possible answer that they could give Jesus.

But if we say: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as if we say here:

It is a conditional statement. For example, the GNT says:
if we say (BSB, GNT, NIV, NCV, KJV, NET, GW, JBP)
It is a question. For example, the RSV says:
shall we say…? (RSV, NJB, NLT, REB, NASB, ESV)

The Greek can be interpreted either way. There is good support in commentaries and versions for both ways of expressing 11:32a. You should follow the choice that is most natural in your language. The Display follows interpretation (1).

‘From men’…: The phrase From men is a quote within another quote. The BSB shows this with single quotes. In some languages it may be necessary to express this as an indirect quotation. For example:

But if we say that it came from people…

But if we say that John’s authority came from people…

In the BSB, as in the Greek, 11:32a is not grammatically complete. In some languages you may be able to indicate an incomplete thought as the BSB does, with an ellipsis character (three periods). Another possibility is to supply the implicit information in what the Jewish leaders began to say. For example:

But we cannot say, “It was from men.”

From men: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as From men refers to the source of John’s right or authority to baptize people. It means that the source of his authority was only human. It came from people, not from God.

See how you translated the phrase From men in 11:30a.

11:32b–c

they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet: The NIV and the GNT put this sentence in parentheses. The parentheses make it clear that Mark was explaining why the Jewish leaders did not want to answer “From men.”

The Jewish leaders did not believe that John’s authority had come from God. But they did not want to say what they really believed, because they were afraid of the people.

You may use parentheses to set this explanation apart, if that is a clear and natural way to do it in your language. But it is not always necessary to use parentheses. See also the General Comment on 11:32a–c at the end of the notes on 11:32c.

11:32b

they were afraid of the people,

They were afraid of the people,
They could not answer that way, because they were afraid of the people,
They were afraid that the people would cause trouble if they said that,

they were afraid of the people: The Jewish leaders were afraid that the people might kill them.

According to the Law of Moses, people who spoke against God or a prophet of God should be killed by stoning. The Jewish leaders were afraid to tell the truth about what they thought of John’s authority to baptize. They were afraid that when the ordinary people heard their opinion, they would be very angry at them and would kill them. See Luke 20:6. This information could be included in a footnote in your translation.

11:32c

for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

because everyone believed that John was a real prophet.
who all believed that John had been a true prophet from God.
because so many of the people were convinced that John had really been a prophet.

for: The word for introduces background information about the reason that the Jewish leaders were afraid of the people. There is implied information in the clause. The people believed that John was a prophet, so they would be angry if the leaders said that he did not get his authority from God. In some languages a word like “for” or “because” may not communicate the right meaning without the implied information. See the General Comment on 11:32a–c below for a different way to express the connection.

they all held: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as held is used in a figurative way here. It means “to hold (or have) an opinion about something.” So to hold that John was a prophet means to “consider/believe” that John was a prophet.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

everyone was convinced (GNT)

everyone thought (NLT96)

everyone believed

they all: The phrase they all is an exaggeration. Mark used this word to emphasize the fact that many people believed John was a prophet. We know that not every person believed that John was a prophet. The Jewish leaders themselves did not believe it.

John truly was a prophet: John was dead at the time the Jewish leaders had this discussion. But even after John died, the people still believed that he had been a prophet. Translate the clause John truly was a prophet in a way that is natural in your language to show that this was what people thought about John. For example:

John had really been a prophet.

prophet: A prophet is a man who speaks a message that God has told him to speak. In this context, the fact that the people believed that John was a prophet meant that they believed that his authority came from God. God had sent him to preach and to baptize people.

See how you translated this word in 1:2a. See also prophet in the Glossary.

General Comment on 11:32a–c

You may be able to express the meaning of 11:32a–c more clearly if you make the whole verse an explanation without direct quotations. For example:

But the leaders did not want to say that John’s authority was only from humans. Most/many of the people believed that John was a prophet, and the leaders were afraid of what the people might do.

Another possibility is to make 11:32a and 11:32c part of what the Jewish leaders said, as a direct quotation. For example, the CEV says:

“On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet. So we can’t say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize.”

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἀλλὰ εἴπωμεν, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά εἴπωμεν Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων Ἐφοβοῦντο τόν ὄχλον ἅπαντες γάρ εἶχον τόν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν)

The Jewish leaders could be: (1) asking themselves a rhetorical question. Alternate translation: [But can we really say, ‘From men] (2) using a conditional form that implies the result. Alternate translation: [But if we say, ‘From men.’]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἀλλὰ εἴπωμεν, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων

The Jewish leaders are using the question form to indicate that they think it is a bad idea to give the answer From men. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [But it is not possible for us to say, ‘From men.’] or [But we cannot say, ‘From men’!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

εἴπωμεν, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων?

˱we˲_˓may˒_say (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά εἴπωμεν Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων Ἐφοβοῦντο τόν ὄχλον ἅπαντες γάρ εἶχον τόν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [should we say that it was from men]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἐξ ἀνθρώπων

The Jewish leaders are leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [John’s baptism was from men] or [It was from men]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἐξ ἀνθρώπων

See how you translated the similar phrase in [11:30](../11/30.md). Alternate translation: [From humans]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-time-background

ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον, ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην, ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν

Mark provides this background information to help readers understand why the Jewish leaders said what they did. Use a natural way in your language for introducing background information. Alternate translation: [They said this to each other because they were afraid of the crowd, for they all held that John really had been a prophet] or [They did not want to say that John’s baptism was from men, because all the crowd held that John really was a prophet, and they were afraid of the crowd]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον, ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην, ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses, since the second clause gives the reason for the result that the first clause describes. Alternate translation: [The crowd held that John really was a prophet, so they were afraid of them all]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν ὄχλον

Here Mark implies that the Jewish leaders feared what the crowd would do if they answered in this way. The crowd might have rioted or attacked them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [of what the crowd would do] or [that the crowd might riot]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἅπαντες & εἶχον

all & ˓were˒_having

Here, the word all refers to the people in the crowd. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: [for everyone in the crowd held] or [for all those who were in the crowd held]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἅπαντες & εἶχον

all & ˓were˒_having

Mark says all here as an overstatement for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: [most of them held]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

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.

OET interlinear MARK 11:32