5:4a

There is a Greek word at the start of 5:4a that indicates that the information in 5:4a explains the statement in 5:3b. Connect 5:4 to 5:3b in a way that is natural for explanations in your language. For example, the English Standard Version says:

for he had often been bound with shackles and chains

Though: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Though is a simple connector that is often translated as “and.” In this context, the word shows a contrast between what 5:4a describes and what 5:4b describes. People wanted and expected the man to remain bound, but instead he broke the chains. In some languages it may be natural to translate the word as but and put it at the start of 5:4b in order to show the contrast. Connect 5:4a to 5:4b in a way that is natural in your language.

he was often bound with chains and shackles: This clause is passive. In some languages it may be more natural to make it active and supply a general subject such as “people.” For example, the New Century Version says:

Many times people had used chains to tie the man’s hands and feet

bound with chains and shackles: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bound with chains and shackles is literally “with foot-shackles/irons and chains had been bound.” “Foot-shackles” or “irons” were metal objects that were placed around a person’s ankles to restrain his feet. In this context, “chains” refers to metal chains that were placed on a person’s wrists to restrain his arms.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

bound with fetters and chains (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
bound/fettered his feet and chained his wrists
-or-
bound/tied his arms and feet with chains

5:4b

he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles: This clause indicates that the man broke apart the chains on his hands and smashed the metal objects on his ankles. Use a vivid and clear way to describe these violent actions. If you use only one word for “chains” on hands and feet in 5:4a, you may need only one verb to describe breaking them here. For example, the New Century Version says:

4aMany times people had used chains to tie the man’s hands and feet, 4bbut he always broke them off.

5:4c

Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him: This statement is similar to the one in 5:3b, which says that no one could bind him any more. The statement here in 5:4c says specifically that no one was strong enough to control the man. The context implies that the unclean spirit in the man gave him abnormal strength.

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