OET interlinear MARK 1:7

1:7a

And: The word And here connects what John wore and ate to what John did and said. As with 1:6c, use a natural way in your language to connect this verse to the preceding verse. Many English versions start this verse with a separate sentence. For example:

He announced (GW)

This is what John preached to the people (NCV)

he began to proclaim: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as he began to proclaim is literally “he was proclaiming/preaching, saying….” The word “proclaiming/preaching” is from the same Greek verb as “preaching” in 1:4b. See the note there.

This clause introduces a summary of what John preached regularly. But 1:4 indicates that he also preached about repentance and baptism. It is good to express 1:7a so that it does not imply that John’s message was only the words 1:7b–c. For example:

In the course of his preaching he said (NJB)

John also told the people (CEV)

1:7b

After me will come: The phrase After me means “later than me [in time].” John’s work had already started. Jesus would begin his work soon afterwards. The Greek verb form that the BSB translates as will come is more literally “is coming.” It indicates that Jesus was coming very soon. He was about to begin his work while John was still alive.

In some languages, a literal translation of After me may imply that Jesus did not come until after John died. If that is true in your language, you should translate in a different way. For example:

Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am (NLT96)

I have already started my work. Very soon someone else will arrive/come…

One more powerful than I: The Greek word that the BSB translates as powerful here refers to greatness. The Christ was greater or more important than John. John was not saying that the Christ was physically stronger than he was.

1:7c

the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie: In Jewish culture, only a slave would untie someone’s sandals. John mentioned this action to indicate that Jesus was very important. Jesus was of such great status that John did not feel worthy even to serve as Jesus’ slave. If the meaning of this action is not clear to your readers, here are some options to consider:

• Mention the action and indicate the symbolic meaning. For example:

  I feel inadequate to even serve him like a slave by stooping and loosening the ties of his sandals.

• Omit the action and translate only its meaning. For example, the NLT96 says:

  I am not even worthy to be his slave. (NLT96)

If you use a word like “slave,” be sure that your translation does not imply that Jesus owned slaves.

straps…sandals…untie: In some areas sandals are not used. In other areas, sandals do not need to be untied. If that is true in your area, you may use a more general word, such as shoes. It may also be more natural to focus on removing the shoes, since that was the purpose for untying the straps. For example:

I am not even qualified to bend down to take off his shoes.

Because of his greatness, I would be ashamed to even remove his shoes.

straps of whose sandals: The word sandals means a type of shoe. The sandals that people wore at that time were usually made from a piece of leather that formed the bottom of a shoe. People tied leather straps onto this piece of leather and then wrapped them around the foot and lower legs.

worthy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as worthy means “qualified” or “adequate” to do something. John felt that he was not important enough to act as Jesus’ slave. He felt he did not deserve the honor of serving him. He was emphasizing how great Jesus was.

In this context the focus of worthy is on John’s status, not his character. Do not imply that John was a bad or evil person. Also do not imply that John was not physically able to do this task.

stoop down: The words stoop down describe what someone must do in order to untie another person’s sandals. It implies that it is a humble or lowly thing to do.

The NCV has another way to translate this phrase:

kneel down

In some languages, it may seem redundant to mention this action, because it is already implied in untying someone’s sandals. If this is true in your language, it may be necessary to emphasize the humbling nature of the action in a different way.