1:23–25

In 1:23–25 singular and plural forms are used in an interesting way. 1:23 talks about a man who was possessed by an evil/unclean spirit. The word for “spirit” is a singular form. The man shouted at Jesus, but the words that he shouted in 1:24a–b use the plural form “us.” This probably implies that the evil spirit was speaking for evil spirits as a group. In 1:24c the evil spirit changed from the pronoun “us” to “I.” When Jesus answered in 1:25, he rebuked “him/it.”

In your translation, use singular and plural forms in a way that is clear and natural in your language.

1:23a–b

Suddenly a man…cried out in the synagogue: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Suddenly here introduces an event that is surprising and significant in the story.

The Greek text does not indicate when the man entered the synagogue. He may have been there while Jesus was speaking or he may have entered as Jesus finished speaking and immediately cried out. Normally, a person with an unclean spirit was not allowed to worship in the synagogue, so the man probably entered after Jesus finished speaking. (There are two interpretations here: (1) The man suddenly entered the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. (2) The man was in the synagogue all along but suddenly shouted out. Most scholars feel that the man was not a member of the synagogue or else entered against the normal rules. Most versions are either ambiguous or unclear in English. Since it is difficult to clearly indicate the different positions, the different interpretations have not been listed in the notes.) The Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version make this explicit. For example:

Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed (Good News Bible)

1:23a

with an unclean spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as with an unclean spirit indicates that an unclean spirit controlled the man’s thoughts and actions.

Languages have different ways to refer to possession by evil spirits.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

controlled by an evil spirit (God’s Word)
-or-
had an evil spirit in him (New Century Version)
-or-
on whom an evil spirit had fastened
-or-
on whom an evil spirit was riding

Use an expression that is natural in your language to refer to an unclean spirit controlling a person.

unclean spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unclean spirit refers to a spirit that is unclean and can control people’s actions. The phrase unclean spirit refers to the same type of spirit as the Greek terms that are often translated as “demon” and “evil spirit.”

Here are some other ways to translate unclean spirit:

• Use a general term in your language that refers to spirits that are evil and can control people. If there is one word with this meaning, you may not need a separate word like “unclean.” For example:

demon

• Use a specific term in your language that refers to a certain type of spirit. This spirit should be able to do what is described in this context. Do not use a term that refers to the spirit of a dead person.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

an evil/bad spirit
-or-
an impure spirit (New International Version, 2011 edition)

Be sure that an expression like “unclean spirit” or “impure spirit” does not imply that the spirit is literally dirty.

See evil spirit in the Glossary for more information.

1:23b

cried out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cried out means “shouted” or “screamed.” Use a natural way in your language to describe a person shouting under the influence of an evil spirit.

In Greek it is the man who cried out. But the words that he shouted came from the evil spirit or spirits that possessed him. Use whatever subject is natural in your language to refer to a person speaking under the influence of an evil spirit.

in the synagogue: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the synagogue is more literally “their synagogue.” This phrase refers to the synagogue where the people who lived in Capernaum worshiped. It does not imply that the synagogue belonged to Jesus and his disciples. It is clear from 1:21 that Jesus had entered the synagogue in that town, so the Berean Standard Bible does not translate the pronoun “their.”

If your term for synagogue is a phrase such as “meeting place of the Jews,” you may need to use a form like “their.” For example:

their meeting place

See the note in 1:21b for the term synagogue. See also synagogue in the Glossary.

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