^5:20When⁷³ Jesus⁷⁴ saw their⁷⁵ faith he said, “Friend,⁷⁶ your sins are forgiven.”⁷⁷^5:21Then⁷⁸ the experts in the law⁷⁹ and the Pharisees began to think⁸⁰ to themselves,⁸¹ “Who is this man⁸² who is uttering blasphemies?⁸³ Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

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Footnotes

73 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
74 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
75 The plural pronoun their makes it clear that Jesus was responding to the faith of the entire group, not just the paralyzed man.
76 Grk “Man,” but the term used in this way was not derogatory in Jewish culture. Used in address (as here) it means “friend” (see ἄνθρωπος 8).
77 Grk “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” Luke stresses the forgiveness of sins (cf. 1:77; 3:3; 24:47). In 5:20 he uses both the perfect ἀφέωνται and the personal pronoun σοι which together combine to heighten the subjective aspect of the experience of forgiveness. The σοι has been omitted in translation in light of normal English style. The passive voice here is a divine passive ( ). It is clear that God does the forgiving.
78 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
79 Or “Then the scribes.” The traditional rendering of γραμματεύς (grammateus) as “scribe” does not communicate much to the modern English reader, for whom the term might mean “professional copyist,” if it means anything at all. The people referred to here were recognized experts in the law of Moses and in traditional laws and regulations. Thus “expert in the law” comes closer to the meaning for the modern reader.
80 Or “to reason” (in a hostile sense). See G. Schrenk, 2:97.
81 The participle λέγοντες (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.
82 Grk “this one” (οὖτος, houtos).
83 Uttering blasphemies meant to say something that dishonored God. To claim divine prerogatives or claim to speak for God when one really does not would be such an act of offense. The remark raised directly the issue of the nature of Jesus’ ministry.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

NLTNew Living Translation

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?”

KJV 1900King James Version

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

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