9:9a

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction. The New International Version and Contemporary English Version translate this word as “But” in order to indicate that Herod’s thoughts contrasted with what the other groups of people said. In some languages, it may be appropriate to emphasize that the subject has changed back to Herod. For example:

But as for Herod, he said

I beheaded John: The clause I beheaded John implies here that Herod had ordered one of his soldiers to cut off John’s head. Herod himself did not cut off John’s head. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I had John’s head cut off (Good News Translation)
-or-
As for John, I myself ordered him to be beheaded

said: Herod probably said these words to himself.

9:9b

but who is this man I hear such things about?: Herod was referring to Jesus when he asked this question. This is a rhetorical question. It expresses uncertainty. Herod probably knew that a man named Jesus had done these miraculous things. However, he was uncertain about what sort of person Jesus really was.

Some ways to translate this expression of uncertainty are:

• As one or more rhetorical questions. For example:

What sort of person is this that I hear such things about?
-or-
How can this person do the ⌊amazing⌋ things that I hear about him? Who is he?

• As one or more statements. For example:

I wonder who this man that I am hearing about really is.

• As both a statement and a question. For example:

So who could this man be? I hear that he is doing some amazing things.
-or-
I am hearing such ⌊strange/wonderful⌋ things about this man. Who could he be?

Use the form that is most natural in your language.

I hear such things about: This clause indicates that Herod heard people say these things about Jesus. In some languages it may be more natural to make this explicit again here. For example:

whom people say such things about

such things: The phrase such things refers to all that Jesus was doing at that time, including healing people and casting out demons. He was doing things that no one else could do. In some languages it may be natural to supply a word that describes the sort of things that Jesus was doing:

such ⌊amazing/powerful/awesome⌋ things

9:9c

he kept trying to see Jesus: The clause he kept trying to see Jesus is literally “was-seeking to see him.” The form of the Greek verb indicates that Herod kept trying to see Jesus. Herod probably wanted to meet Jesus so that he could see him and talk to him personally or see Jesus do a miracle. Your language may have a way to indicate that this was a continual action.

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