11:16
others: The word others refers to yet a different group in the crowd. This group addressed Jesus directly. Introduce this other group in a way that is natural in your language.
tested Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as tested means “to examine in order to determine certain characteristics.” Here certain people wanted to examine Jesus to determine whether he came from God and whether his power came from God. They did this by asking him for a sign from heaven.
In the context of 11:17a, these people were probably not trying honestly to determine the truth about Jesus’ authority. They were probably trying to discredit him. In some languages, it may be clearer to express this negative aspect of “tested.” For example:
Others wanted to trap Jesus (Good News Translation)
by demanding: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demanding is literally “seeking.” Another way to translate this is:
asking for (New International Version)
a sign from heaven: Here the word heaven is a euphemism for God. So the phrase a sign from heaven means “a sign from God.” For example:
a sign from God (Contemporary English Version)
Some other ways to translate a sign from heaven are:
a miraculous sign from heaven (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a miracle to show that God approved of him (Good News Translation)
See heaven, Meaning 3, in the Glossary.
These people wanted Jesus to do a miracle to prove to them that he drove out the demon by God’s power. One way to translate this would be:
Others tested him by asking him to do a miracle ⌊to show that his power came⌋ from God.
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