7:22
Jesus did not ignore the question that John’s disciples asked (7:20). He wanted them to see the miracles that he was doing (7:21). It was on this basis that he replied to them here in 7:22.
7:22a–b
So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is often translated as “and.” Here it introduces what Jesus did next. He answered the messengers from John. He used the miracles that he had been doing as the basis for his answer. Some English versions translate this connection as “And” (Revised Standard Version) or “Then” (New Living Translation (2004)). Some other English versions do not translate it (Good News Translation). Connect this verse to 7:21 in a way that is natural in your language.
He replied: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He replied is literally “replying, he said to them.” Your language may require you to specify to whom Jesus replied. You could say “them,” or you could use another word or expression to clarify that this refers to the men whom John had sent. In your translation, use an expression that clearly refers to the two men mentioned in 7:18b and 7:20a. Other ways to translate this are:
he replied to the messengers (New International Version)
-or-
he told John’s disciples (New Living Translation (2004))
7:22c
The blind receive sight: The phrase The blind receive sight means “people who were blind can now see.”
the lame walk: The phrase the lame walk means “people who could not walk can now walk.”
lame: A lame person is someone who is permanently unable to walk.
7:22d
the lepers are cleansed: This clause is passive. Some other ways to translate it are:
those who have leprosy become well
-or-
lepers receive cleansing/healing
-or-
People who have leprosy are being healed (Contemporary English Version)
lepers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lepers could describe people who had several different skin diseases. Scholars disagree as to whether these diseases included what modern medicine calls leprosy (Hansen’s disease). They agree that in New Testament times the Greek word referred to dreaded skin diseases. People believed that these diseases were spread by contact with someone who had the disease. A person who had one of these diseases was also considered ritually unclean. Some ways to translate this word are:
• Use a general phrase that describes the nature or significance of the disease. For example:
dreaded skin diseases (Good News Translation)
-or-
serious skin diseases
-or-
contagious skin diseases
• Use a term that refers specifically to leprosy. For example:
leprosy
-or-
something like leprosy
A term that refers specifically to leprosy may be appropriate in areas where readers are already familiar with the term “leprosy.” If you decide to use a word that means “leprosy,” it is recommended that you add a footnote to give more information. For example:
The disease that is mentioned here refers to various contagious and dreaded skin diseases. A person who had one of these diseases was considered ritually unclean. According to the Jewish law, he was not allowed to associate with other people or to worship in the Temple.
See the notes on 4:27a and 5:12b.
cleansed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as cleansed refers to the lepers’ status under the Law of Moses. People who had leprosy were ritually unclean or impure. They were not allowed to participate in public religious ceremonies or to worship God in the temple. They had to live away from other people who did not have this disease. When they were healed, they became ritually clean, and then they were allowed to enter the temple again and participate in community activities.
Here are several ways to translate the word cleansed here:
• Translate both the idea of healing and the idea of becoming ritually pure. For example:
⌊healed and⌋ ritually cleansed
• Translate only the idea of healing here. For example:
cured (New International Version)
• Translate only the idea of becoming ritually pure. For example:
made ⌊ritually⌋ clean/pure
See the notes on 4:27b and 5:12d.
7:22e
the deaf hear: The phrase the deaf hear means “deaf people become able to hear again.”
the dead are raised: This clause is passive. In some languages it may be necessary to translate this without using a passive verb. For example:
people who have died become alive again
-or-
dead people have come back to life
7:22f
the good news is preached to the poor: This is a passive clause. Some other ways to translate it in this context are:
poor people hear the Good News (God’s Word)
-or-
the poor have good news proclaimed to them (NET Bible)
-or-
⌊I⌋ am telling good news to poor people
Jesus told good news to poor people. The clause good news is preached to the poor occurs in a list that mostly includes miracles. Jesus listed different things that the Old Testament said that the Messiah would do. See Isaiah 61:1–2 and Luke 4:18–19. Jesus implied that he was showing that he was the Messiah by doing those things.
preached: The word preached here means to proclaim or tell good news. Use a word in your language that is natural for telling good news to people. Do not use a word that refers only to what a preacher does in church.
the poor: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the poor normally refers to people who lack enough food, clothing, or other necessities. It can also refer to people who are needy in other ways. They may lack status, or they may be oppressed by other people. In the Bible the poor often refers to people who know that they need God to help them.
In this context, Jesus referred to the people that he preached to. These people were poor in different ways. If possible, use a word that can refer to different types of poverty, including spiritual needs. If your usual term for poor people is not used in other senses, you might choose a more general term. For example:
those in need (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
those who are in want
-or-
those who are without resources
See how you translated poor in 6:20b.
General Comment on 7:22c–f
In 7:22c–f Jesus talked about these amazing things that were happening without saying who was doing them. It was very clear that he was doing them himself. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit:
22c
⌊I⌋ am giving blind people their sight, making lame people able to walk again, 22dcleansing/healing lepers, 22emaking deaf people able to hear again, and raising dead people to life. 22f⌊I⌋ am proclaiming the good news to the poor.
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