16:20a

And a beggar named Lazarus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beggar refers to a very poor person. It is not a specific word for a professional beggar. The Berean Standard Bible probably uses the word beggar here because Lazarus was clearly placed at the rich man’s gate in the hopes that he would receive food or money. Most versions translate this word as:

a poor man

lay: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lay is passive and is literally “had been laid.” There are three ways to interpret this verb:

(1) It indicates that people had brought him there and left him. For example:

was laid (New American Standard Bible)

(New International Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version Contemporary English Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It indicates only that he was lying there. For example:

lay (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(3) It indicates that people brought him there regularly. For example:

was regularly brought (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The passive verb implies that he was too crippled or sick to get there himself. This helps to show the contrast between the rich man’s luxurious lifestyle and the poor man’s miserable condition.

If it is necessary to use an active verb in your language, you should supply a general subject. For example:

people had placed him at the gate of the rich man’s house

at his gate: The phrase his gate probably refers to the main gate that led into the courtyard of the rich man’s house. It does not refer to the door of the house itself.

16:20b

covered with sores: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as covered with sores means “with sores all over his body.” This man suffered from a bad skin disease. These sores may have been ulcers or boils. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this phrase with a separate sentence. For example:

His body was full of sores.
-or-
He had sores on his entire body.

General Comment on 16:20a–b

Several English versions give the name of this poor man later in this verse. For example:

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores. (New International Version)

In some languages it may be more natural to tell the man’s name and describe his condition earlier in the verse. For example:

20aThere was also a poor man whose name was Lazarus. 20bHe had sores all over his body. 20aPeople had left him at the gate of the house of the rich man.

Lazarus is the second main person in this story. Introduce him in a natural way in your language.

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