9:50a
In this verse, the metaphor is changed from the process of putting salt on something (9:49) to salt itself.
Salt is good: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as good can also mean “useful.” Here Jesus meant that salt was useful or valuable for flavoring or for preserving food.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Salt is a good thing (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Salt is good for seasoning. (New Living Translation)
-or-
There are good uses for salt.
9:50b
but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes a negative statement: If salt loses its salty taste, you certainly cannot make it salty again. Translate this expression in a way that emphasizes the negative statement.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
• As a rhetorical question. For example, the God’s Word says:
if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor?
• As a statement. For example, the New Century Version says:
if the salt loses its salty taste, you cannot make it salty again
• As a tag question. For example:
if the salt loses its salty taste, you cannot make it salty again, can you?
but if the salt loses its saltiness: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as loses its saltiness is literally “becomes saltless.” Salt that has “become saltless” has lost its ability to make food taste better.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
if it loses its taste/flavor
-or-
if the salt becomes unsalty (New American Standard Bible)
9:50c
Have salt among yourselves: The expression Have salt among yourselves refers figuratively to attitudes that believers have. Bible scholars have many opinions about which specific attitudes this expression refers to. You may want to:
• Refer to the figurative use of salt in a general way. For example:
You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves. (New Living Translation)
-or-
May your(plur) attitudes and deeds have a salty taste/flavor
-or-
Make your mind/attitudes beneficial like salt
• In the text of your translation, explain the metaphor in a general way. For example:
Have(plur) that good effect of the gospel to others like salt to food
-or-
Be(plur) good disciples like the usefulness of salt for food
9:50d
be at peace with one another: In this context, the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be at peace means “seek or keep peace” with other people. It refers to promoting unity, harmony, and friendliness. People who live at peace in this way will not quarrel and fight with each other.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
live in harmony together
-or-
have unity among yourselves
Paragraph 10:1–9
10:1a
Then: This verse is the beginning of a new section and story. The events in this section happened sometime after the events in the preceding section. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this story with the word Then. The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between these two stories.
If it is natural in your language to begin a story with a time word or phrase, use an expression that is not too specific. For example:
Later
-or-
After that
In some languages, a time word or phrase is not necessary. Introduce this story in a natural way in your language.
Jesus left that place: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus left that place are literally “having arisen (from) there.” In this context, the phrase “having arisen” probably refers to beginning his journey.
It is clear from 10:10b that the disciples were with Jesus. In some languages it may be clearer to make this explicit here at the beginning of the story. For example:
Jesus and his disciples began their journey
-or-
When/After Jesus and his followers left there
that place: The phrase that place refers to the town of Capernaum (9:33).
10:1b
went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan is literally “the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan.” (There is a textual issue in 10:1b: (1) Many Greek manuscripts have “and across/beyond the Jordan.” For example, the Good News Bible says: “and crossed the Jordan River” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English). (2) Some manuscripts have “through the other side of the Jordan.” For example, the King James Version says: “by the farther side of Jordan” (King James Version, God’s Word). It is recommended that you follow option (1). But if the major language version in your area follows the manuscripts which have “by way of the other side,” you may want to follow that.) These words probably indicate that Jesus went to two places:
(a) The region of Judea, which is west of the Jordan River.
(b) A region east of the Jordan River. The Greek and the Berean Standard Bible refer to this eastern region as beyond the Jordan.
The events of 10:2–31 probably take place in the region east of the Jordan River. You may be able to make this clear by saying:
went into the region of Judea and arrived in the region beyond the Jordan
Judea: The word Judea is the name of a region. This was the region surrounding the city of Jerusalem. See how you transliterated this name in 3:7c.
beyond the Jordan: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beyond also means “across” (as in the New International Version). The Contemporary English Version shows another way to say this:
to the other side of the Jordan River
In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this word as a verb. For example, the Good News Bible says:
crossed the Jordan River
the Jordan: The word Jordan refers to the “Jordan River.” It may be more natural in your language to indicate that. For example, the Good News Bible says:
the Jordan River
10:1c
Again the crowds came to Him: The word Again indicates that as on previous occasions, crowds also came this time. The word Again does not indicate that the same crowds came. For example:
Once again crowds gathered round him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
As always there were the crowds. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
the crowds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crowds is plural. This plural word may indicate:
(a) a very large crowd/group of people,
(b) several large groups of people, or
(c) different crowds at different times.
Use an expression in your language that allows for one or more of these meanings.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
a very large crowd
-or-
various large groups of people
-or-
many people
came to Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as came refers to coming together into a group. All these crowds gathered around Jesus. The Revised English Bible says:
gathered round him
10:1d
as was His custom: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as was His custom is literally “again as he was accustomed [to].” It indicates that Jesus usually or habitually taught the crowds, and he did so on this occasion also.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
as usual (New Living Translation)
-or-
as he always did (Good News Bible)
Some languages can express this idea by a habitual form of the verb “teach.”
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