24:31a–b
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus: These two clauses have similar meanings. They tell what happened when Jesus gave them the bread. The clause Then their eyes were opened indicates that suddenly the disciples became able to recognize Jesus. The clause they recognized Jesus is the result. Another way to translate the clauses is:
31aSuddenly they were able to recognize Jesus, 31band they knew him.
In some languages it may be more natural to combine these clauses. For example:
And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. (New Century Version)
-or-
At once they knew who he was (Contemporary English Version)
their eyes were opened: The clause their eyes were opened is a metaphor. It indicates that the two disciples became able to recognize Jesus. The verb were opened is passive. It probably implies that God enabled them to recognize him. Refer to 24:16, where the passive verb probably implied that God prevented the disciples from recognizing Jesus.
In some languages a literal translation of the metaphor may have the wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:
• Use a simile. For example:
Then it was as if their eyes/mind cleared
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
At that moment they became aware
• Use an active verb and supply God as the subject, or indicate that God caused it. For example:
⌊God⌋ caused them to realize
Translate the clause in a natural way in your language.
24:31c
and He disappeared from their sight: The clause and He disappeared from their sight indicates that after the disciples recognized Jesus in 24:31b, they could not see him anymore. This clause implies that Jesus left them in a way that they could not see. Other ways to say this are:
he vanished from their sight (English Standard Version)
-or-
he ⌊suddenly⌋ became invisible to them
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