Translation commentary on Mark 4:9

Exegesis:

For the whole expression cf. 4.23; 7.16, and in the O.T. Deut. 29.4; Psalm 115.6. The meaning is “If any one is able (and willing) to learn, let him pay attention!”

ōta (4.23; 7.33; 8.18) ‘ears.’

akouein ‘to hear’: the infinitive indicates purpose (cf. 4.3).

Translation:

This aphoristic expression is a very effective one, but in some languages it must be slightly modified in order to be intelligible. In the first place, its generic quality sometimes must be altered from singular to plural ‘all those who have….’ In the second place, in a number of languages the ears must be the inner ears, by which one hears, not the outer projections from the head (cf. Spanish, Highland Totonac). In the third place let him hear is not an expression of permission, but of exhortation, therefore, equivalent to ‘he ought to listen’ or ‘they should pay attention’ (Shilluk). Ears to hear may be rendered as ‘ears with which he (or ‘they’) can hear.’

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 4:9

4:9

Then Jesus said: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then Jesus said introduces the advice that Jesus gave at the conclusion of his parable. In some languages it may be helpful to make explicit that this is the conclusion of the parable. For example, the Good News Bible has:

And Jesus concluded

He who has ears to hear, let him hear: With this saying, Jesus commanded or urged the crowd to give careful attention to the parable that they had just heard. Jesus wanted them to understand and respond correctly to the lesson of the parable.

If you have a similar expression in your language that urges an audience to listen carefully to what you are saying, you may want to use it here.

This saying assumes that everyone in the crowd has ears that are able to hear. So it is addressed to all the people who were listening to Jesus. In some languages it may not be natural or clear to translate the saying literally.

Here are some other ways to translate this saying:

• Use “they” or “you” instead of he. For example:

All those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
-or-
All of you who have ears to hear, hear.

• Use a different type of clause or clauses. In some languages it may be more natural to use an “if” clause or a reason clause. For example:

If you have ears that can hear, then give/pay attention.
-or-
Since you have ears that can hear, listen.

• Translate the saying without including the word “ears.” For example, the New Century Version says:

You people who can hear me, listen!

• Change the order of the clauses. For example, the Good News Bible says:

Listen, then, if you have ears!

hear…hear: The word hear is used twice in this verse part but with slightly different meanings. The first hear refers to the physical ability to hear. The second hear means to think about, understand and respond to what the parable means.

Here are some other ways to translate these two meanings:

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. (New Living Translation)
-or-
Anyone who is listening should think about what he has just heard.

let him hear: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as let him hear is an indirect command. It is not a request for permission. The New Jerusalem Bible has:

Anyone who has ears for listening should listen!

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