MARK 2:20 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. ἐλεύσονται
2. erχomai
3. will be coming
4. -
5. 20640
6. VIFM3··P
7. ˓will_be˒ coming
8. ˓will_be˒ coming
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23129
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23130
1. ἡμέραι
2. hēmera
3. days
4. -
5. 22500
6. N····NFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23131
1. ὅταν
2. hotan
3. when
4. -
5. 37520
6. R·······
7. when
8. when
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23132
1. ἀρθῇ
2. airō
3. -
4. -
5. 1420
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ carried
8. ˓may_be˒ carried
9. -
10. -
11. 23133
1. ἀπαρθῇ
2. apairō
3. may be taken away
4. taken
5. 5220
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
8. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23134
1. ἀπʼ
2. apo
3. from
4. -
5. 5750
6. P·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23135
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R23105
11. 23136
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23137
1. νυμφίος
2. numfios
3. bridegroom
4. -
5. 35660
6. N····NMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23138
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. But and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23139
1. τότε
2. tote
3. then
4. -
5. 51190
6. D·······
7. then
8. then
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23140
1. νηστεύσουσιν
2. nēsteuō
3. they will be fasting
4. fasting
5. 35220
6. VIFA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
8. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R23105
11. 23141
1. νηστεύουσιν
2. nēsteuō
3. -
4. -
5. 35220
6. VIPA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓are˒ fasting
8. ˱they˲ ˓are˒ fasting
9. -
10. -
11. 23142
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23143
1. ἐκείναις
2. ekeinos
3. -
4. -
5. 15650
6. E····DFP
7. those
8. those
9. -
10. -
11. 23144
1. ἐκείνῃ
2. ekeinos
3. that
4. -
5. 15650
6. E····DFS
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23145
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 23146
1. τῇ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23147
1. ἡμέραις
2. hēmera
3. -
4. -
5. 22500
6. N····DFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. -
11. 23148
1. ἡμέρᾳ
2. hēmera
3. day
4. -
5. 22500
6. N····DFS
7. day
8. day
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23149

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:18–22: People asked Jesus about fasting

At the time when Jesus lived, Jewish people often went without eating food for one or more days. They did this to show they were sorry for their sins or to ask for favor from God. This is called “fasting.”

In this section people asked Jesus why he and his disciples did not fast. Jesus answered the question about fasting. Then he indicated that he was teaching a new way to live for God. His new way would not fit into the old traditions. To illustrate this point, Jesus used three comparisons:

To explain why his disciples did not fast, Jesus compared himself to a bridegroom, and he compared his disciples to wedding guests. They could not fast while he was with them.
To show that his way and the old traditions did not match, Jesus compared his new way to new cloth. The old traditional ways were like an old garment. No one would sew new cloth onto an old garment.
Then Jesus compared his new way to new wine and the old way to old wineskins. When new wine was put into old wineskins, both were ruined.

This section can be difficult for people to understand because Jesus used comparisons to illustrate a point, but he did not make the point explicit. The point was that he was teaching a new way that was different from the old Jewish traditions. In some languages it may be necessary to include a footnote to explain this.

In this section there are some ideas that may not be familiar in certain cultures. For example:

fasting
Jewish wedding customs about bridegrooms
sewing patches onto cloth
new wine and old wineskins

Consider carefully how to translate each of these ideas in a meaningful way in your language. The Notes for this section will give suggestions.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus taught that his new way was different from Jewish traditions

Jesus’ new way and the old ways

This story also occurs in Matthew 9:14–17 and Luke 5:33–39.

Paragraph 2:18–20

In this paragraph it is important for readers to know what “fasting” meant in the Jewish culture. In this context, “fasting” means to abstain from food for religious reasons. The Jewish people often fasted at times when they were very serious about praying to God. See 1 Samuel 7:5, Matthew 6:16–18, Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2. Often Jewish people would fast for some time to prepare for God to speak to them (see Exodus 24, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 4:2).

John the Baptizer’s disciples and the Pharisees followed these Jewish customs.

2:20a

But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them;

But later the bridegroom will be taken away from his friends,
But later people will take the bridegroom away from his friends/guests,
But someday I, the bridegroom, will be led away from my friends/disciples,

But: The Greek connector that the BSB translates as But indicates that 2:19 contrasts with 2:20. In 2:19 the bridegroom’s friends are rejoicing with the bridegroom, but in 2:20 he is taken away from them and they fast. Express the contrast in a natural way in your language.

the time will come when: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the time will come when is literally “days will come when.” It is an emphatic way to refer to an indefinite time in the future.

In some languages it may not be natural to speak of time coming. There may be another idiom or phrase to express this. Use an appropriate expression in your language. For example:

Someday

the bridegroom will be taken from them: The words the bridegroom will be taken from them refer to an event that was not a usual part of a wedding celebration. Usually the guests would leave the celebration first.

Jesus used this figure of speech to imply that he himself would be taken from his disciples. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit in some way. For example:

But the time will come when I, the bridegroom, will be taken from them

will be taken: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as will be taken is a passive. It implies that someone would use force to make the bridegroom leave. In some languages it may be necessary to make this verb active and provide a subject. If that is true in your language, it is best to use a general subject. For example:

people will take the bridegroom from them

2:20b

then they will fast.

and on that day they will fast.
and at that time it will be appropriate that they go without eating.

then they will fast: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as then they will fast is literally, “then they will fast on that day.” It emphasizes the time period when Jesus’ disciples (the bridegroom’s friends) would fast. Jesus did not imply that they would fast only on the day that he left. He probably implied that as soon as he left his disciples, they would begin to fast regularly or often.

Here are some other ways to translate this.

at that time they will fast (NET)

that will be the time for them to fast. (REB)

they: The pronoun they refers to the bridegroom’s friends and guests. In the metaphor they represent Jesus’ disciples.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐλεύσονται & ἡμέραι ὅταν & ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ

˓will_be˒_coming & days when & in that ¬the day

Here Jesus is using the word days to refer to a particular time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a similar form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a time will come when … in that time] or [there will be a time when … at that time]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀπαρθῇ & ὁ νυμφίος

˓may_be˒_taken_away & the bridegroom

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who does the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [someone will take the bridegroom away]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

τότε & ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ

then & in that ¬the day

The expression in those days, then contains extra information that would be unnatural to express in some languages. If this is true of your language, you could shorten the expression. Alternate translation: [in those days]

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

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. But
2. -
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23130
1. days
2. -
3. 22500
5. hēmera
6. N-····NFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23131
1. will be coming
2. -
3. 20640
5. erχomai
6. V-IFM3··P
7. ˓will_be˒ coming
8. ˓will_be˒ coming
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23129
1. when
2. -
3. 37520
5. hotan
6. R-·······
7. when
8. when
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23132
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23137
1. bridegroom
2. -
3. 35660
5. numfios
6. N-····NMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23138
1. may be taken away
2. taken
3. 5220
5. apairō
6. V-SAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
8. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23134
1. from
2. -
3. 5750
5. apo
6. P-·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23135
1. them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R23105
11. 23136
1. and
2. But and
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23139
1. then
2. -
3. 51190
5. tote
6. D-·······
7. then
8. then
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23140
1. they will be fasting
2. fasting
3. 35220
5. nēsteuō
6. V-IFA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
8. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R23105
11. 23141
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23143
1. that
2. -
3. 15650
5. ekeinos
6. E-····DFS
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23145
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23147
1. day
2. -
3. 22500
5. hēmera
6. N-····DFS
7. day
8. day
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 23149

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 2:20

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 2:18–22: People asked Jesus about fasting

Paragraph 2:18–20

2:20a

2:20b

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