23-00
The Birth of Jesus
This title can also be translated as: “About how Jesus was born” or “What happened when Jesus was born?”
23-01
Mary was engaged to a righteous man named Joseph
Parents normally arranged the marriages of their children. Alternate translation: “The parents of Mary had promised her in marriage to a righteous man named Joseph” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
engaged
This could mean promised to be married. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-unknown/01.md]])
he knew it was not his baby
This could mean he knew that he was not the one who had caused her to be pregnant.
However, he did not want to shame Mary
The connecting word However contrasts Mary being pregnant with what Joseph believed to be another man’s child, with Joseph’s desire not to shame Mary. You would expect Joseph to be angry and want to shame her but, instead, he responds with mercy. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
to shame Mary
This could mean to cause Mary to be publicly disgraced or to embarrass Mary publicly. Joseph was merciful to Mary even though it seemed like she was an adulteress.
to divorce her quietly
This could also be translated as: “to divorce her without telling others why,” or “to divorce her without telling others about her pregnancy.” Because Joseph was righteous, he wanted to resolve the situation in the best way possible, which in this culture would be to divorce her quietly.
divorce her
Joseph had not married Mary yet, but when a man and woman promised to marry each other, Jews considered them husband and wife though they did not live together. This is why a divorce was necessary rather than simply breaking an engagement. For some languages, it may be better to say: “break their engagement.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
in a dream
This could mean while he was asleep and dreaming.
23-02
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife
This can also be translated as: “Stop thinking that you shouldn’t marry Mary” or “Do not hesitate to have Mary as your wife.”
The baby that is in her is from the Holy Spirit
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant with this child” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])
is from the Holy Spirit
This could mean was conceived by a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son
Because God sent the angel, the angel knew the baby was a boy. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
Name him Jesus
This is a command from God telling Joseph exactly what to name the baby.
because he will save the people from their sins
The connecting word because connects the result (Joseph was to name the baby Jesus, which means God saves), with the reason (Jesus will save the people from their sins). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
23-03
So Joseph married Mary
The connecting word So connects the result (Joseph took Mary as his wife) with the reason (the angel told him the baby was not another man’s child conceived in sin, but the Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
but he did not sleep with her
The connecting word but contrasts Joseph taking Mary to be his wife, with him not sleeping with her. It would be expected that a man would sleep with the woman he took as his wife, but Joseph did the unexpected. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
he did not sleep with her
He kept her a virgin until the birth of the baby. In order to be polite, a euphemism is used to say Joseph did not have sexual intercourse with Mary. Alternate translation: “he did not have sexual relations with her” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-euphemism/01.md]])
23-04
When the time was near for Mary to give birth
This could mean When it was near the end of Mary’s pregnancy.
They had to go there because the Roman officials wanted to count all the people in the land of Israel. They wanted everyone to go to where their ancestors had lived. King David had been born in Bethlehem, and he was the ancestor of both Mary and Joseph.
This is background information about why Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
the Roman officials
Rome had conquered and ruled over Israel at this time.
to count all the people
This could mean to write their names on a list. They probably did this so they could tax the people.
23-05
but there was no place for them to stay
This is background information about why Jesus was born in a place where animals slept. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
no place for them to stay
This could mean no usual place for them to stay. Because Bethlehem was so crowded at that time, the usual rooms for guests were already full of people.
where some animals were kept
This was a place for sheltering animals, not a place where people lived. Translate this with a term that would normally be used for a place where animals were kept.
a feeding trough
This could mean an animal feed box or a wooden or stone box for feeding animals. The box could have been filled with hay to provide a padded surface for the baby to lie on.
23-06
guarding their flocks
A flock is a group of sheep. The shepherds were caring for their sheep, and protecting them from harm or theft.
a shining angel
This could also be translated as: “an angel surrounded by a bright light.” The shining light would have seemed even brighter in contrast to the darkness of the night.
they were terrified
The shepherds were very afraid when a supernatural angel appeared.
The angel said, “Do not be afraid, because I have some good news for you. The Messiah, the Master, has been born in Bethlehem!”
This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “The angel told them not to be afraid, because he had some good news for them. The Messiah, the Master, had been born in Bethlehem!” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
Do not be afraid
This often means stop being afraid. The angel spoke this command to the shepherds in order to comfort them. The shepherds were very afraid when they saw the angel, so he was telling them they did not need to be afraid. Alternate translation: “You do not need to be afraid”
The Messiah, the Master, has been born in Bethlehem!
This sentence emphasizes the exciting message that the Messiah—for whom the Israelites had so long been waiting—had finally come! (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
23-07
General Information
The angel continued speaking.
Go search for the baby, and you will find him wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.
This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “The angel told them to go and search for the baby, and they would find him wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
and you will find him wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding trough
The connecting word and introduces a sequential clause. After they go and search for the baby, they will find him wrapped in cloth and lying in a trough. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
wrapped in pieces of cloth
The custom of that time was to tightly wrap newborn babies in long strips of cloth. It may be necessary to say “wrapped in long strips of cloth, in the customary way.”
a feeding trough
This could mean an animal feeding box. Also see how you translated this in 23:05.
filled with angels
This means that there were so many angels that they seemed to fill the sky.
May all honor be to God
This can also be translated as: “Let us all honor God!” or “Our God deserves all honor!” or “We all give honor to God!”
peace on earth
Another way to say this would be: “may there be peace on earth.”
the people he favors
This might be translated as: “people that God looks upon with favor, delight, or good will.”
23-08
Then the angels left
The connecting word Then introduces a sequential clause. The angels gave their praise, and then they left. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
everything they had heard and seen
This included the glorious angels and their amazing message, as well as seeing the newborn Messiah himself.
23-09
There were some men in a country far to the east.
This introduces as new characters in the story. These men came from the east to worship Jesus. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
They studied the stars and were very wise
This is background information about why these men knew Jesus had been born and came to see him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
They studied the stars
These men may also have had access to the Old Testament prophets’ writings that predicted the birth of the Messiah.
an unusual star
The star that they noticed was not a normal star. It was something that appeared at the time of Jesus’ birth.
So they decided to travel from their country to see the child
The connecting word So connects the reason (a new king of the Jews had been born), with the result (the men decided to travel to see the child). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
the child
As much as a year or two passed before the men arrived in Bethlehem. Jesus was no longer a baby.
the house
They were no longer staying in the place for animals where he was born.
23-10
When these men saw Jesus with his mother
The connecting word When introduces a simultaneous clause. When they saw Jesus, the wisemen bowed down and worshiped. It was their simultaneous response to seeing him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous/01.md]])
bowed down
This could mean bowed low to the ground. At that time, this was the customary way of showing great respect or reverence. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])
expensive
This could mean very valuable.
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.