MARK 2:20 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and in those days, then they will fast.

UST However, someday the bridegroom will no longer be with his friends. Then they will abstain from eating.

BLB But the days will come when the bridegroom will have been taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

AICNT But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in {that day}.[fn]

2:20, that day: Some manuscripts read “those days.”

OEB But the days will come, when the groom will be taken away from them, and they will fast then – when that day comes.’

WEBBE But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast.

LSV but days will come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they will fast—in those days.

FBV But the day is coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they'll fast.

TCNT But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in [fn]those days.

2:20 those days ¦ that day CT

T4T But some day, he will be taken away {his enemies will take him away} from them. Then, in those days, they will abstain from food, because they will be sad.”

LEB But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

BBE But the days will come when the husband will be taken away from them, and then they will go without food.

Moff A time will come when the bridegroom is taken from them; then they will fast, on that day.

Wymth But a time will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.

ASV But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.

DRA But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and then they shall fast in those days.

YLT but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast — in those days.

Drby But days will come when the bridegroom shall have been taken away from them, and then shall they fast in that day.

RV But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.

SLT And the days shall come when the bridegroom should he taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Wbstr But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast in those days.

KJB-1769 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

KJB-1611 But the dayes will come, when the Bridegrome shall bee taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those dayes.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps But the dayes wyll come, when the brydegrome shalbe taken awaye from them, and then shall they fast in those dayes.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Gnva But the daies will come, when the bridegrome shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast in those daies.
(But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast in those days. )

Cvdl But the tyme wyl come, that the brydegrome shalbe taken from them, and then shal they fast.
(But the time will come, that the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.)

TNT But the dayes will come when the brydgrome shalbe taken from them and then shall they faste in those dayes.
(But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them and then shall they fast in those days. )

Wycl But daies schulen come, whanne the spouse schal be takun awei fro hem, and thanne thei schulen faste in tho daies.
(But days should come, when the spouse shall be taken away from hem, and then they should fast in those days.)

Luth Es wird aber die Zeit kommen, daß der Bräutigam von ihnen genommen wird; dann werden sie fasten.
(It becomes but the time/period coming, that the/of_the Bräutigam from to_them taken becomes; then become they/she/them fasten.)

ClVg Venient autem dies cum auferetur ab eis sponsus: et tunc jejunabunt in illis diebus.
(They_will_come however days when/with will_be_taken_away away to_them groom: and then yeyunabunt in/into/on to_them days. )

UGNT ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.
(eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ ap’ autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin en ekeinaʸ taʸ haʸmera.)

SBL-GNT ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν ἐν ⸂ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ⸃.
(eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ apʼ autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin en ⸂ekeinaʸ taʸ haʸmera⸃.)

RP-GNT ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ' αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις.
(eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ ap' autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin en ekeinais tais haʸmerais.)

TC-GNT ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν ἐν [fn]ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις.
(eleusontai de haʸmerai hotan aparthaʸ ap autōn ho numfios, kai tote naʸsteusousin en ekeinais tais haʸmerais. )

2:20 εκειναις ταις ημεραις ¦ εκεινη τη ημερα CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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.

UTN 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]

Parallel MARK 2:20

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

Paragraph 2:18–20

2:20a

2:20b