Pray then like this is rendered similarly by most translations. Note, for example, New English Bible (“This is how you should pray”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“So you should pray like this”). At least one commentator points out that the meaning is “in this way,” not “in these words.”

Following this interpretation, translators may have “When you pray, you should pray in this way,” “Your praying should be like this,” or “When you pray, this is the kind of prayer you should make.”

There is one practical problem in translating the Lord’s Prayer that we should mention. The version used in liturgy is often different from the text of Matthew. Translators should not try to make their translation of the version of it in Matthew conform to the version that is already in use in the Church. They must do the best they can to translate the prayer meaningfully as they find it in Matthew. In any case, Luke’s version is different, and the usual church version contains an ending not found in the New Testament text, so total conformity will never be possible.

The form of address in Matthew (Our Father who art in heaven) appears in Luke simply as “Father” (Luke 11.2). The modifier Our reminds us that no believer stands alone, while in heaven serves both to differentiate the heavenly Father from earthly fathers and at the same time to preserve the distance between God and man.

Note Our refers to those of us here on earth praying. Some languages have two words for “our,” one that includes the person with whom one is talking (inclusive) and one that does not (exclusive). The latter should be used, since here God is being addressed, that is, being spoken to.

Father has been discussed in 5.16. Here there are many translations that say “God, our Father in heaven” to avoid any possibility that readers think the prayer is addressed to an earthly father who has died and gone to heaven. Others say “God in heaven, who is (like) a Father to us.” Other ways to structure this phrase include “God our Father, you who live in heaven” and “Our Father God, whose place is heaven.”

With regard to the last part of this verse and the entirety of the following verse, commentators observe that the three petitions are parallel in thought, and both the passive form and the use of name reflect the attitude of reverence found in Jewish prayers.

The archaic Hallowed be thy name is translated “may your name be honoured” by Phillips and “May your name be held in reverence” by Barclay. New Jerusalem Bible translates “may your name be held holy.” Together with Revised Standard Version, a number of so-called modern English translations perpetuate the archaic Hallowed (New International Version, New English Bible, New American Bible), which translates a Greek verb meaning “make holy.” Good News Translation incorporates the idea of holy, but the restructuring is quite different: “May your holy name be honored.”

Through the use of the noun name, Matthew is able to refer to God without mentioning him. In the Bible, name is often a substitute for the person spoken of. It is a way of referring to God as he has revealed himself in history, and it indicates the very presence of God himself. Scholars note that the passive form of the verb is used to avoid giving God a direct command. The petitioner is asking God to cause people to honor his sacred name, that is, to honor God himself.

We discussed “holy” under 1.18. If translators have a good word for “holy,” then they can say “may people honor your holy name,” much as in Good News Translation, or “we pray that people will treat your name as holy.” However, where there is not an acceptable single word for “holy,” where people have usually translated the term with a phrase that includes “God,” then here the translations may have to use “honor.” One way is “May people really honor your name.” But much better may be “May people give the honor to your name which they should because you are God.”

In many cultures, readers will readily understand that to honor his name is a way of saying to honor him. But in others this will not be understood, and people will use “you” directly. Thus they may have in the translation “may people show you great honor,” “may people show the honor due you as God,” or “may people recognize you as God.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .