Paragraph 12:47–48

12:47

This verse states a general principle. It does not refer to a particular action in the past. Use a natural way in your language to state this general principle. For example:

If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Servants who know their master’s will but do not get themselves ready or do it will receive many blows.
-or-
As for a servant who knows his master’s will but does not do it, he will receive a severe beating.

12:47a

That servant who knows his master’s will: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That servant refers to a type of servant that Jesus was about to mention. Jesus was referring to any servant who knew what his master wanted or told him to do. In some languages it may be more natural to use a different form to refer to a servant or servants in general. For example:

a servant who knows what the master wants (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
servants who know what their master wants them to do

12:47b

but does not get ready: In this context the phrase does not get ready means “does not prepare for the master’s return.”

or: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as or introduces a second thing that the servant does not do. The servant does not get ready and he does not do what his master wants.

follow his instructions: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as follow his instructions is literally “do his master’s will,” as in 12:47a. The Berean Standard Bible has varied the translation for stylistic reasons. You may use the same expression if that is good style in your language. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

obey his master
-or-
fulfill his master’s desires

General Comment on 12:47b

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the two verb phrases in this part of the verse. For example:

and does not obey his master or prepare for his return

12:47c

will be beaten with many blows: This is a passive verb phrase. It refers to someone being struck many times with a whip (or possibly a stick). Some ways to translate it are:

• With a passive verb. For example:

will be whipped with many blows/strokes

• With an active verb. For example:

will receive a severe beating (New Revised Standard Version)

• If it is necessary to specify an actor, the implied actor is either the master or someone else whom the master orders to whip him. For example:

⌊his master⌋ will give him a severe whipping
-or-

⌊his master will cause/order someone to⌋ beat him with many blows

Translate this in a way that is most natural in your language.

General Comment on 12:47a–c

12:47a–b describe a condition or situation that will lead to a particular result (12:47c). In some languages it may be more natural to state 12:47a–b as a conditional (if) clause. For example:

If servants do not obey their master or prepare for him to return, they will receive many lashes with the whip.

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