The Greeks in the city … : We cannot be certain who the writer means by The Greeks in the city, since before this verse as well as later (see 3 Macc 4.1), he emphasizes hostility to the Jews. The reference here has to be to some group of Greeks who realized that the widespread rumors about the Jews were false, and were willing to try to do something to help them. Scholars think that they were a higher social class among the Greeks. Contemporary English Version (and apparently Revised Standard Version) depicts this verse as a mob scene, a particular event. It is not necessary to read the passage this way. We suggest beginning the verse with “Some of the Greeks in the city of Alexandria….”

Though wronged in no way may be rendered “even though the Jews had not hurt people in any way.”

When they saw an unexpected tumult: The word unexpected refers to the “surprise” of these Greeks. Tumult can refer to a riot, but also to a general disturbance. These Greeks were surprised to discover that such hostility existed against the Jews. We may render this clause as “were surprised at how angry people were becoming at the Jews.”

And the crowds that suddenly were forming may be translated “and how they were unexpectedly gathering together in large crowds.” Hostility to the Jews had reached the point where angry people would gather in groups, but the author does not necessarily say that mobs formed around a group of Jews at a particular time. These Greeks who wish them no harm are still able to give the Jews some encouragement, and this suggests that they still had opportunity to talk with them. Further, nothing happens. We believe then, that it is best not to describe this in translation as a single event in which a number of Jews were threatened.

Were not strong enough to help them, for they lived under tyranny may be rendered “because they were ruled by the same cruel leaders, they had no power to do anything” (Contemporary English Version).

They did try to console them: Console means “to encourage.” So we may say “All they could do was encourage the Jews.”

Being grieved at the situation may be rendered “because they were upset at what was happening to them.”

And expected that matters would change: Though some of the Greeks were friendly to the Jews, they were unable in this situation to do much other than encourage them, and tell them that things would get better.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Some of the Greeks in the city of Alexandria, however, were surprised at how angry people were becoming at the Jews, and how they would gather together in angry [or, hostile] groups. They knew that the Jews had not hurt them in any way, but they were afraid of their cruel ruler. They were upset at what was happening to the Jews, but all they could do was encourage the Jews, and tell them that things would surely get better.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.