Paragraph 9:34–36
9:34a–b
a cloud…enveloped them…as they entered the cloud: There are at least three views about which people the cloud enveloped and who entered the cloud:
(1) A cloud enveloped everyone there (Jesus, the disciples, Moses, and Elijah). Everyone entered the cloud.
(2) A cloud enveloped Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah entered the cloud.
(3) A cloud enveloped only Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah entered the cloud.
English versions do not indicate which interpretation they follow. If possible, you should translate in a way that does not make explicit who was enveloped by the cloud and who entered it. However, if you need to choose an interpretation, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
9:34a
While Peter was speaking: The clause While Peter was speaking refers to when Peter was still speaking the words in 9:33b–c.
a cloud: The cloud represented the presence of God. Use a general expression that could refer to any type of cloud. If your language only has specific terms for each type of cloud, use the term that would be appropriate here. In some languages the term for a white, puffy, fair-weather cloud would fit this context.
appeared and enveloped: The actions of a cloud appearing and enveloping people often happen almost at the same time. Here are two ways to translate the two verbs:
• Use two or more verbs. For example:
a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow (Good News Translation)
• Use only one verb. It may be possible to make the verb “appeared” implicit. For example:
a cloud overshadowed them (New Living Translation (2004))
Describe these actions in a natural way in your language.
appeared: In this context, the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appeared means “came” or “appeared.” Use a natural way in your language to speak of a cloud forming. Some ways to do this in English are:
came (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
formed (New American Standard Bible)
enveloped: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as enveloped:
(1) It means cast its shadow or overshadowed. The cloud passed between them and the sun, and they were in its shadow. For example:
covered…with its shadow (Good News Translation)
(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Revised English Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version)
(2) It means surrounded or enveloped. They were on a mountain. So when the cloud came, it surrounded them so that they were in the middle of the cloud. It was like being in a fog. For example:
enveloped (New International Version)
-or-
came in around (NLV)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NLV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions.
9:34b
they were afraid as they entered the cloud: The words they were afraid as they entered the cloud indicate that the three disciples were frightened when the cloud began to cover them and the others who were there.
entered the cloud: The words entered the cloud means that the shadow of the cloud moved until it completely covered them. It does not mean that anyone moved forward and went inside the cloud. Other ways to translate this clause are:
the cloud covered them (New Century Version)
-or-
the cloud came over them (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 9:34a–b
In some languages the phrases “a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow” (9:34a in the Good News Translation) and “they entered the cloud” (9:34b) may seem redundant. One way to avoid this problem is to use the word “began.” For example:
34aa cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and 34b…they entered the cloud (New American Standard Bible)
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