VersePhraseExplanation
Mat 11:21If the mighty deeds ... in sackcloth and ashesJesus is describing a hypothetical situation that could have happened in the past, but it did not.
Mat 11:23For if in Sodom ... it would still have remained until todayJesus is describing a hypothetical situation that could have happened in the past, but it did not.
Mrk 10:25It is easier for a camelThis speaks of an impossible situation. If you cannot state this in this way in your language, it can be written as a hypothetical situation. Alternate Translation: "It would be easier for a camel"
Mrk 12:20There were seven brothersThe Sadducees talk about a situation that did not really happen because they want Jesus to tell them what he thinks is right and wrong. Alternate Translation: "Suppose there were seven brothers"
Luk 5:36If he did thatThis hypothetical statement explains the reason why a person would not actually mend a garment in that way.
Luk 6:39If he didSome languages might prefer, "if one did." This is an absurd situation that is not likely to actually happen.
Luk 10:13If the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and SidonJesus is describing a situation that could have happened in the past but did not. Alternate Translation: "If someone had performed the miracles for the people of Tyre and Sidon that I performed for you"
Luk 12:58For when you go ... bit of moneyJesus uses a hypothetical situation to teach the crowd. His point is that they should resolve the things they are able to resolve without involving the public courts. This can be restated to make it clear it might not happen. Alternate Translation: "For if you were to go ... bit of money"
Luk 12:59For when you go ... bit of moneyJesus uses a hypothetical situation to teach the crowd. His point is that they should resolve the things they are able to resolve without involving the public courts. This can be restated to make it clear it might not happen. Alternate Translation: "For if you were to go ... bit of money"
Luk 15:8if she were to loseThis is a hypothetical situation and not a story about a real woman. Some languages have ways of showing this.
Luk 16:30if someone would go to them from the deadThis describes a situation that has not happened, but that the rich man would like to happen. Alternate Translation: "if a person who has died would go to them" or "if someone who has died would go and warn them"
Luk 16:31neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the deadAbraham states what would happen if the hypothetical situation occurred. It can be stated in active form. Alternate Translation: "neither will a person who comes back from the dead be able to convince them" or "they will not believe even if a person comes back from the dead"
Luk 17:2It would be better for him ifThis introduces a hypothetical situation. It means that this person's punishment for causing people to sin will be worse than if they had drowned in the sea.
Luk 17:4If he sins against you seven timesThis is a hypothetical future situation. It may never happen, but even if it does, Jesus tells people to forgive.
Luk 19:31If anyone asks you ... need of itJesus tells the disciples how to answer a question that has not yet been asked. However, people in the village will soon ask the question.
Luk 19:40if these were silent ... cry outThis is a hypothetical situation. Some translators may need to make it clear what Jesus was implying when he said this: "no, I will not rebuke them, for if these people were to be silent ... cry out"
Luk 22:67If I tell you, you will not believeThis is the first of two hypothetical statements by Jesus. It was a way for Jesus to respond without giving them a reason to say that he was guilty of blasphemy. Your language may have a way of indicating that the action has not actually happened.
Luk 22:68if I ask you, you will not answerThis is the second hypothetical statement. It was a way for Jesus to rebuke them without giving them a reason to convict him. Your language may have a way of indicating that the action has not actually happened.
Jhn 2:19Destroy this temple, ... I will raise it upJesus is stating a hypothetical situation in which something would certainly happen if something else that is not true were true. In this case, he would certainly raise the temple up if the Jewish authorities were to destroy it. He is not commanding the Jewish authorities to tear down the actual temple building. You can translate the words "destroy" and "raise" using the usual words for tearing down and rebuilding a building. Alternate Translation: "If you destroy this temple, I will certainly raise it up" or "You can be certain that if you were to destroy this temple, I would raise it up"
Act 23:9What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?The Pharisees are rebuking the Sadducees by affirming that spirits and angels do exist and can speak to people. Alternate Translation: "Maybe a spirit or an angel has spoken with him!"
Act 25:11Though if I have done wrong ... no one may hand me over to themPaul is stating a hypothetical situation. If he were guilty, he would accept the punishment, but he knows that he is not guilty.
1Co 15:13if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raisedPaul is using a hypothetical case to argue that there is a resurrection of the dead. He knows that Christ has been raised and so infers that there is a resurrection. To say that there is no resurrection is to say that Christ has not been raised, but this is false because Paul has seen the resurrected Christ ([1 Corinthians 15:8](./08.md)).
1Co 15:29If the dead are not raised at all, why are they baptized for them?Paul uses a hypothetical situation to argue that the dead are raised. To say that the dead are not raised is to say that people should not be baptized for the dead. But some people, probably some members of the church in Corinth, are baptized for the dead, so he infers those people are baptized for the dead because they believe that the dead are raised.
Gal 1:8should proclaimThis is describing something that has not happened and should not happen. Alternate Translation: "would proclaim" or "were to proclaim"
Gal 2:21if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothingPaul is describing a situation that never existed.
Gal 3:18For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promisePaul is speaking of a situation that did not exist to emphasize that the inheritance came only by means of the promise. Alternate Translation: "the inheritance comes to us by means of the promise, because we could not keep the demands of God's law"
Gal 5:11In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removedPaul is describing a situation that does not exist to emphasize that people persecute him because he is preaching that God forgives people because of Jesus' work on the cross.
Php 3:4Even soAlthough if I wanted to. Paul is introducing a hypothetical situation that could not possibly exist.
Php 3:4I myself could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he has confidence in the flesh, I could have even moreThis is a hypothetical situation that Paul does not believe is possible. Paul says if it were possible that God would save people based on what they did, then God would certainly have saved him. Alternate Translation: "No one can do enough things to please God, but if anyone could do enough things to please God, I could do more good things and please God more than anyone"
Tit 2:8so that anyone who opposes you may be ashamedThis presents an imaginary situation where someone opposes Titus and then becomes ashamed for having done so. Alternate Translation: "so that if anyone opposes you, he may be ashamed" or "so that if people oppose you, they may be ashamed"
Jas 2:2Suppose that someoneJames starts to describe a situation where the believers might give more honor to a rich person than to a poor person.
Jas 2:18Yet someone may sayJames describes a hypothetical situation where someone objects to his teaching. James seeks to correct his audience's understanding of faith and works.