11:2a
exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it: These two clauses have the same meaning. In some languages it is more natural to reverse their order or combine them into one clause. For example:
do not measure the outermost courtyard of temple; ignore it
-or-
do not measure the outer courtyard (New Living Translation (2004))
exclude the courtyard outside the temple: This clause indicates that the outer court was not to be included in measuring the temple area. Other ways to translate this clause are:
Leave out the court which is outside the temple (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
leave that out (English Standard Version)
By excluding the courtyard outside the temple, John would measure only the distance around the inner courts. Within these courts was the temple.
In some languages it is more natural to explain what was measured. For example:
exclude the outer court ⌊and measure only the wall around the inner courts and the temple⌋
courtyard outside the temple: The temple in Jerusalem was surrounded by several courtyards. The phrase courtyard outside the temple refers to the area inside the outermost wall. But it does not include the courtyard of women, the courtyard of men and the courtyard of the priests.
The courtyard outside the temple was set aside for people who were not Jews. They could worship God there. They were not allowed into any of the other courts. John was told to measure the size of the temple and the inner courtyards that surrounded the temple. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the outer courtyard of the temple (NET Bible)
-or-
the outermost court/area of the temple
11:2b
it has been given over to the nations: This clause indicates that God allowed the non-Jews, often referred to as “the Gentiles,” to occupy or control this courtyard. The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ has given it to the Gentiles
it: This pronoun refers to the outer court.
the nations: Here the word nations refers to people who are not Jews. Here the word refers to people who are not the people of God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the Gentiles (New International Version)
-or-
foreigners
-or-
the heathen (Good News Translation)
-or-
those people who don’t know God (Contemporary English Version)
11:2c
they will trample: The word trample means to walk over something and stomp on it so as to destroy it. Here it refers figuratively to oppressing people.
In some languages a literal translation would not imply the figurative meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
They will oppress
You may then want to explain the Greek word in a footnote. For example:
Literally: “trample.”
• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:
The word “trample” refers figuratively to oppressing the people in the holy city.
the holy city: The scholars have various opinions about what this phrase refers to. Translate this phrase literally.
holy: Here this word refers to the city as being dedicated for God’s use. Other ways to translate holy are:
set apart
-or-
special ⌊in God’s eyes⌋
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