2:3a–b

This verse tells the next event in the story. This next event probably occurred while Jesus was still preaching. In some languages it may be necessary to use an introductory expression here. For example:

As he was preaching…

Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men: In Greek the expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a paralytic was brought to Him is literally “they came, bringing to him a paralytic.” It does not indicate how many people came or whether they were men or women. However, the phrase four men indicates that four people carried the paralytic. At least some of these were men. Scholars have two views about how many people came with the paralytic:

(1) More than four people came with the paralytic, and four of them carried him. For example:

Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Four people came, all carrying the paralytic. For example:

four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus (Good News Bible)

(Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, God’s Word, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

a paralytic was brought to Him: The context implies that the people were bringing the paralytic to Jesus so that Jesus would heal him. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

a paralytic was brought to him to be healed

paralytic: A paralytic is a person who is unable to move some part or all of his body. In this context the paralytic could not walk.

carried by four men: The verb here is passive. If your language would not use a passive verb in this context, you may need to make it active. For example:

four people carried him
-or-
four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus (Good News Bible)

In 2:4c Mark indicates that the paralytic was lying on a mat. See the note on 2:4c. In some languages it may be helpful to mention the mat here in 2:3, as well. If that is true in your language, you can use the same word for it in both verses.

Here is another way to translate this:

carrying him on a mat/stretcher

Some languages have specific words for carrying something by the four corners or carrying something from either end. If your language has such words, one of them may be appropriate here.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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