OET interlinear MARK 3:14

3:14a-d

He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach: In some languages it may be natural to start a new sentence after accompany Him. For example:

^14aJesus appointed them ^14bto be apostles ^14cin order that they might be with him. ^14dHe also wanted to send them out to preach…

3:14a

He appointed twelve of them: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as appointed here literally means “made.” Jesus made twelve men his apostles. This indicates that Jesus “chose” or “selected” twelve of the disciples he had summoned to be apostles. For example:

Then he chose twelve of them (CEV)

Then he selected twelve of them (NLT96)

3:14b

whom He designated as apostles: There is a textual issue in this verse. In some Greek manuscripts, there is a clause that means “designating them apostles.”

1. Most recent, major English versions follow the manuscripts that include this clause. For example, the GW says:

   ^14aHe appointed twelve ^14bwhom he called apostles. ^14cThey were to accompany him. (BSB, NIV, GNT, CEV, GW, NCV, NLT, NRSV, NET)

2. Other English versions follow the manuscripts that do not include this clause. For example, the NJB says:

   ^14aand he appointed twelve; ^14cthey were to be his companions (RSV, NJB, NASB, REB, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), since it is supported by many of the earliest manuscripts.The UBS4 follows option (1), giving it a C rating, indicating some degree of doubt. Although this reading has the support of some of the oldest and most reliable manuscripts, there is also strong reason to believe that copyists may have taken this phrase from Luke 6:13 and added it here. The RSV and the NJB no doubt omitted it because of its considerable degree of uncertainty. The addition could be explained based on a copyist’s tendency to want to harmonize and/or further clarify a text. (Based on UBS4 page 128, Metzger page 69, and EH page 69).

However, if the major language version in your area followed option (2), it may be best to follow that option.

designated: The Greek word that the BSB translates as designated is literally “named.” For example:

whom he named apostles (GNT)

The CEV has another way to translate this:

to be his apostles (CEV)

apostles: The Greek word that English versions translate as apostles means “those who are sent.” It refers to people whom someone sends with authority to accomplish a mission or a particular task. Jesus chose twelve men to be his apostles.

Here are some other ways to translate apostle:

• Translate the meaning of the Greek word apostles. For example:

  people sent to speak/act for him

  special messengers

  representatives

• Indicate the role or function of apostles. For example:

  chief leaders of Jesus’ work

  people who are in charge of Jesus’ work

Be careful to choose different terms for “apostle,” “angel,” “elder,” and “prophet.”

See also apostle in the Glossary.

3:14c

to accompany Him: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as to accompany Him tells one of Jesus’ purposes in appointing the twelve disciples as apostles. He appointed them as apostles in order that they would follow him and learn from him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He wanted them to be with him (NCV)

They were to accompany him (GW)

3:14d

to be sent out: The phrase that the BSB translates as to be sent out introduces Jesus’ second purpose in appointing the apostles. Jesus’ plan was to tell the apostles to go to various villages. One way to say this is:

and in order that * he might send them out

to preach: Jesus sent out the disciples to do two things. The first thing was to preach. The word preach means to publicly tell people something important. In this context they were telling people the gospel.

Here are some other ways to translate to preach:

to announce

to proclaim

If your language needs to specify to whom the apostles would preach, you should supply a general term such as “people.” For example:

to preach to the people

If in your language you need to tell what the apostles would preach, it is recommended that you supply a general term like “good news.” For example:

to preach the good news

to spread [the Good News] (GW)