13:3a
No, I tell you: The Berean Standard Bible follows the Greek word order by translating this verse part as No, I tell you. Other versions translate it in a different order. For example:
I tell you, no (New International Version)
You should translate this in a natural order in your language.
In this verse part, Jesus gave an emphatic negative answer to his own rhetorical question in 13:2a–b. He indicated that it would be completely wrong to think that these Galileans had died in this way because they were worse sinners than other people. He emphasized that fact by using the phrase I tell you. See the note on 12:27c for more information on how to translate that phrase.
Some other ways to translate No, I tell you in this context are:
• As a clause before Jesus’ statement. For example:
No! I can guarantee/assure you ⌊that they were not worse sinners⌋
-or-
I assure you, that is incorrect
• As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
But ⌊if so,⌋ you are completely/very wrong!
If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.
13:3b
But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But introduces Jesus’ main point, in contrast to what the people incorrectly assumed. Since Jesus has already emphatically denied the truth of their assumption in 13:3a, you may need to introduce Jesus’ main point in another way. For example:
In fact, if you do not repent
unless you repent: The clause unless you repent means “if you do not turn away from your sin.” The word repent means that a person “changes his mind, heart, or will.” In the Bible, it refers specifically to a person changing his mind and heart about sin and about God. When a person repents, he is sorry for his past sins. He decides to stop sinning and obey God. Another way to translate this is:
unless you change your hearts and lives (New Century Version)
Other ways to translate this clause are:
unless you turn from sin to God
-or-
unless you reject your sins
-or-
unless you leave your sinning behind
See how you translated “repented” at 10:13d.
13:3c
you too will all perish: There are at least two ways to interpret the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you too will all perish:
(1) It means that Jesus’ listeners would also die with their sins not forgiven. They would experience eternal, spiritual death.
(2) It means that Jesus’ listeners would also die a violent, physical death. They would experience destruction as a nation. This actually happened to many Jews in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. For example:
every one of you will also be killed (Contemporary English Version)
(Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
Most English versions are ambiguous. There is good support for both interpretations. It is recommended that you translate ambiguously if possible. For example:
your punishment will be the same as theirs
-or-
you also will face God’s judgment
-or-
you will also perish/die
If it is not possible to translate ambiguously, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), since the context stresses the need for repentance. Repentance will always prevent eternal death, but people who repent do not necessarily escape violent physical death.
You may also want to add a footnote, as suggested by the TRT:
In verses 3 and 5 Jesus is especially referring to spiritual death and what will happen on Judgment Day, when people who do not repent of their sins and do not trust in Him will be sent to hell for eternal punishment (Matthew 25:41, 25:46).
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