12:44a

For: The Greek connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces an explanation of 12:43. Some English versions do not use a connector. Use a natural way to connect 12:43 and 12:44 in your language.

they all contributed out of their surplus: This clause indicates that all of the rich people gave some money to God, but they still had plenty of money left. They had all the money they needed for food, clothes, and other things, even after they gave their offering. They did not give God any money that they really needed.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

They gave only what they did not need. (New Century Version)
-or-
they gave a tiny part of their surplus. (New Living Translation)

12:44b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates a contrast with the previous clause. Try to make the contrast between the widow and the rich givers very clear in your language.

she out of her poverty has put in all she had: This clause indicates that the poor widow did not have any extra money. She did not even have enough money to buy the things that she really needed. She gave everything that she had to God.

out of her poverty: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as out of her poverty is literally “out of her lack.” “Lack” is the opposite of abundance. The phrase means that the woman did not have all the things that she needed. Try to use a word or phrase that contrasts with the wealth or abundance of the other givers. In some languages it may be necessary to follow the Contemporary English Version and make this into a separate clause:

she is very poor

put in all she had to live on: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as put in all that she had to live on is more literally “put in all, as much as she had, her whole life.” This clause emphasizes that the widow gave everything that she had that she needed to survive. Use an emphatic way to express this in your language. For example, the New International Version says:

put in everything—all she had to live on

all she had to live on: The phrase all she had to live on refers to the money that the widow could have used to buy food. She had no other savings.

Paragraph 13:1–2

13:1–2

Jesus left the temple with his disciples. Only one disciple is mentioned in 13:1–2, but it is clear from 13:3–4 that other disciples were there. They also heard the conversation between Jesus and that disciple.

13:1a

As Jesus was leaving the temple: The following verses (13:2–3) show that Jesus was not alone as he left the temple courtyard. It may therefore be necessary to say:

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple courtyard
-or-
Jesus was leaving the temple courts with his disciples

If you choose to use the word “disciples” here, translate it the same way as you did in 12:43a.

temple: In this context, the word temple refers to the large, outer courtyard of the temple. It does not refer to the temple building itself. (The temple consisted of the temple building and the walls and courtyards that surrounded it. People did not meet inside the temple building because only the priests could go there.)

If people understand the word temple to refer only to the temple building, you may need to use a term like “temple courtyard” (as in the God’s Word).

Here are some ways to translate the term temple in this context:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

courtyard of the house of God
-or-
courtyard of the house of sacrifice
-or-
holy/sacred house courtyard

• If your language has a word for “temple,” consider using it. But you may need to modify it by saying:

courtyard of the temple of the Jews/Lord
-or-
big/great temple courtyard

Translate this term as you did in 12:35a. See temple, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information about the temple and how to translate it.

13:1b

one of His disciples: If you mentioned the disciples in 13:1a, you could now use the word “them.” For example:

one of them

said to Him: The disciple’s words in 13:1b–c are an exclamation. In some languages it may be more natural to use a different verb like “exclaimed,” as in the Revised English Bible.

Teacher, look: The New International Version translates this phrase as “Look, Teacher!” You should place the word Teacher in the position that is most natural in your language.

Teacher: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Teacher was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. In some languages the appropriate way to address a religious teacher may be:

Sir Teacher
-or-
Sir
-or-
Master

Be careful not to use a term that can refer only to a school teacher.

See how you translated this term in 12:32a.

look: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as look means “look” or “see.” It draws attention to what follows.

13:1c

at the magnificent stones and buildings!: The clause at the magnificent stones and buildings! is an exclamation. Other languages express exclamations in different ways. For example:

Look at these massive stones! Look at these magnificent buildings!
-or-
These are extremely massive stones! These are extremely magnificent buildings!

You should express these exclamations in a way that is natural in your language.

magnificent: The Greek word is literally “what type/manner of.” In a context like this, it shows admiration and means something like “how great.” For example:

huge (Revised English Bible)
-or-
massive (New International Version)
-or-
wonderful (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
beautiful (God’s Word)

stones: The word stones refers to the stone blocks of which the temple was made. Workers had to cut these stones to be the right shape for the building.

Here is another way to translate this:

What huge stones the builders used!

In some languages it may be helpful to mention the buildings before mentioning the stones. See the General Comment below for an example.

Paragraph 13:3–4

After Jesus and his disciples left the temple, they went down into a valley and climbed up the other side onto the Mount of Olives. Jesus sat down, and from there he could look across the valley to the temple.

13:3a

While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives: This part of the verse gives the location for the rest of this chapter.

Here is another way to translate this:

Soon after, Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives

It may also be natural to make explicit the fact that Jesus went/walked over to the Mount of Olives. For example:

Then Jesus went over to the Mount of Olives and sat down

the Mount of Olives: The Mount of Olives was a hill on the east side of Jerusalem. This hill had olive trees growing on it. The summit/top of this hill was higher than the hill on which the temple was built. So someone who was on the top of the Mount of Olives could see the temple on the other hill. Mark first introduced the expression the Mount of Olives in 11:1b. See how you translated it there.

13:3b

opposite the temple: The word opposite indicates that the temple was “across the valley from” or “facing” the Mount of Olives. When Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, he would be able to see the temple and the whole city of Jerusalem.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

facing the Temple (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
across the valley from the Temple (New Living Translation)

temple: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as temple is the same word as in 13:1a. If you translated this word as “temple courtyard” in 13:1a, you can translate it here as simply “temple.” See temple, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

13:3c

Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately: The four disciples Peter, James, John and Andrew came to Jesus as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives (13:3a). They wanted to ask him about what he had said in 13:2. The word privately indicates that they did not want anyone else to hear their question. The four disciples probably sat close to Jesus. His other disciples also may have been nearby but not close enough to hear what was said.

In some languages it may be natural to mention that the four disciples came/went near to Jesus. For example:

Peter, James, John, and Andrew went over to talk to Jesus privately. They asked him….
-or-
Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to Jesus when no one else was with him and asked him…

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