Paragraph 27:42–44

27:42a–b

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom: In some languages indirect or direct speech must be used to describe what the soldiers planned. For example:

The soldiers decided that they should kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
-or-
The soldiers decided saying, “We should kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.”

27:42a

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners: This clause in Greek is literally “The decision of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners.” Other ways to translate this clause are:

The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The soldiers said to each other, “We need to kill the prisoners.”

27:42b

so none of them could swim to freedom: Roman authorities punished Roman soldiers severely (sometimes even killing them) if they allowed a prisoner to escape. So usually they would kill prisoners rather than allow them to escape. In some languages the implied reason will not be clear. If so, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Roman authorities punished Roman soldiers severely if they allowed a prisoner to escape. So usually they would killed prisoners rather than allow them to escape.

• Include some implied information. For example:

to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping ⌊because that way the soldiers avoided being punished for allowing them to escape⌋

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