SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 2:46

2:46a

Finally, after three days: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as after three days probably indicates that Joseph and Mary found Jesus on the third day after they left Jerusalem. The first day was the day that they left Jerusalem to go toward Nazareth. On the second day they went back to Jerusalem, and on the third day they found Jesus.

If you want to make this clear in your translation you could say:

On the third day ⌊after they left Jerusalem

Most commentators do not think that this phrase means that they searched for him in Jerusalem for three days.

temple courts: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as temple courts is literally “temple” (as in most English versions). The temple was in Jerusalem and was the most important place where Jews worshiped God. It consisted of the main building and the walls and courtyards that surrounded it. Here “temple” refers specifically to one of the temple courtyards.

Some English versions (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible) have made this clear by translating “temple” as temple courts. You may want to do this also if your word or phrase for “temple” would make readers think that Joseph and Mary found Jesus inside the temple building.

This word also occurs in 2:27a. See the note on 2:27a for examples of how to translate this. See temple, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

2:46b

among: The word among indicates that Jesus was with a group of teachers. It does not imply that he was one of the teachers. The word among can be translated as “with,” “next to,” “in front of,” or “in the middle of.” Translate it in a natural way in your language for this context.

teachers: The teachers were teachers of the Jewish religion. They were probably some of the best-known religious teachers in Israel.

2:46c

listening to them and asking them questions: Jesus was respectful toward these teachers. He behaved like a student.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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