Paragraph 1:2–3
The quotes in 1:2–3 come from two books of the Old Testament. The quote in 1:3 is from Isaiah 40:3. The quote in 1:2 is from Malachi 3:1. Some parts of 1:2–3 may also be from Exodus 23:20. Mark mentioned only Isaiah. Consider whether it would be helpful to your readers to use footnotes to give the references for these Old Testament quotations.
1:2a
As: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As indicates the connection between 1:2a and 1:4: Just as Isaiah prophesied in 1:2–3, so John appeared in 1:4 and fulfilled that prophecy. Another way to show this connection is to indicate it only in 1:4. Many English versions that omit the word “as” in 1:2a follow this option. See the note on 1:4a.
it is written in Isaiah the prophet (There is a textual issue in 1:2a: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have in Isaiah the prophet. For example, the Revised Standard Version says: “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have in the prophets. For example, the King James Version says: “As it is written in the prophets” (King James Version). It is recommended that you follow option (1).) The phrase Isaiah the prophet refers here to the book that Isaiah the prophet wrote. (The manuscript evidence for the reading “in Isaiah the prophet” has both early and widespread support. The quote in 1:2 actually comes from Exodus 23:20 and Malachi 3:1 and only 1:3 comes from Isaiah. Because Isaiah was a major prophet in the Old Testament, and often quoted in the New, it is possible that Mark mentions Isaiah the prophet as representative of these quotes from the Old Testament. (Gundry page 35) Also, it must be noted that Mark was not writing for a Jewish but a Gentile audience, who would not be familiar with all the prophets mentioned in the Jewish Scriptures.) This book is in the Old Testament. In this book Isaiah wrote the messages that God gave him to tell people. The first readers of Mark’s Gospel knew that Mark was quoting God’s message that Isaiah had written long before. If this information is not clear to your readers, you may need to make it explicit. For example:
Long ago, God caused the prophet Isaiah to write these words:
-or-
The prophet Isaiah wrote these words from God long ago. He said…
it is written: The phrase it is written is the usual way that authors of New Testament books introduced a quote from the Old Testament. You should be as consistent as possible in translating this phrase.
prophet: A prophet is a man who speaks on behalf of God. He tells people what God has revealed to him, and he also gives them messages from God.
Here are some ways to translate prophet:
a spokesman for God
-or-
a man who speaks God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speaker
When choosing a term for prophet, consider how you will translate other words which are similar in meaning such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.”
While prophets did foretell the future, this was not their only function. Avoid using a word that focuses on telling the future.
See also prophet in the Glossary.
1:2b–c
I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your Way: Here the pronoun refers to God, and the pronoun You refers to the Christ. It is important to translate this quotation carefully so that readers will understand to whom the pronouns in 1:2b–c refer. (In Malachi 3:1 the quotation can be translated as, “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me,” and the quotation from Isaiah 40:3 can be translated as, “prepare the way of the LORD .” When these quotations are interpreted in relation to Mark 1:2, they indicate that the LORD himself was coming to earth in the person of the Messiah.)
If this meaning will not be clear in your translation, you may need to make it explicit. For example, the Good News Bible makes explicit that refers to God. It has:
God said, “I will send…”
1:2b
Behold: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Behold indicates that the speaker will say something important or surprising, and he wants people to listen carefully to it.
This word is not easy to translate into English, so many English versions do not translate it (see the New International Version). Consider whether you have a natural way in your language to translate this Greek word.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Look/Listen
-or-
Take note of this
-or-
I have something to tell you
I will send My messenger: In many cultures at that time, a king would choose a person to go as his messenger to tell people that he was coming. The messenger would tell the people to prepare for his coming. Here God indicated that he would send a messenger to tell people that the Christ was coming.
send: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as send means to order someone to go somewhere for a particular purpose.
My messenger: In some languages it may be more natural to express the word messenger as a verb phrase. For example:
I will send someone ahead of you to make known my message/words.
ahead of You: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ahead of You is literally “before your face.” In this context the phrase may indicate either or both of the following options:
(a) I will send my messenger before I send you.
(b) I will send my messenger to go in front of you.
In some languages there may be a natural way to translate the clause so that both meanings are possible. If you must chose one of these meanings, choose option (a).
1:2c
prepare Your way: In this context the phrase prepare Your way is a metaphor. It is based on the custom of preparing roads before a king came. People repaired the roads so that the king could travel easily on them. Here the metaphor indicates that God was sending someone to prepare people for the Christ by telling them to repent of their sins. (This metaphor is also used in Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2–3, Luke 3:4–6, and Luke 7:27.)
In some languages people may not understand the meaning of the metaphor. They may wrongly think that it refers to repairing roads. If that is true in your language, consider one of these options:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare people for your coming, like a person who prepares the roads before a king comes.
• Translate the meaning of the metaphor directly. For example:
I will send my messenger ahead of you to tell people to prepare themselves for your coming.
way: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as way literally means “road,” “path,” or “highway.” Use a word that is appropriate for your area.
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