And Jesus rebuked him is translated “Jesus gave a command to the demon” by Good News Translation, and “Jesus then spoke sternly to the boy” by New English Bible. The problem is that him of the Greek text is not specified. However, there are at least two strong arguments in favor of identifying him with the boy: (1) The grammatical relation between verses 17 and 18 demands that the reference is to the boy, and (2) except for the rebuke of the storm in 8.26, every other occurrence of the verb in the Gospel is addressed to people; never is it used of demons (see 12.16; 16.22; 19.13). Nevertheless, the excellent scholarship behind Moffatt, New International Version, An American Translation, Phillips, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch identifies the demon as the one to whom Jesus directed the rebuke, and this meaning is implied in New Jerusalem Bible: “And when Jesus rebuked it the devil came out of the boy.” If this exegesis is believed to be valid, then direct discourse may be employed: “Jesus gave a stern command to the demon. He said, ‘Come out of the boy.’ ” Whether translators say “And Jesus spoke sharply to the boy” or “… to the demon,” it is the demon that understands and responds. Translators should therefore let him refer to the boy or the demon according to whichever seems the more natural to their readers.

For comments on rebuked, see 8.26. Normally this word means to give a command not to do something. But to say “Jesus told him to quit what he was doing” is probably a little awkward. “Spoke sternly to” or “ordered harshly” will fit better in this context.

For demon, see the comments at 4.24 and 4.1.

The demon came out of him: “went out of him” or “left him” may be better for some languages, but of course translators should use whatever expression would be most commonly used for freeing someone of evil spirits.

Although both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation follow the form of the Greek in retaining verse 18 as one sentence, it will be more effective in some languages to divide it into several smaller units. For example, a new sentence can begin either with the statement that the demon came out of the boy, or with the observation and the boy was cured instantly. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes the last clause of this sentence into a separate statement, thus emphasizing the fact of the healing.

Instantly (literally “from that hour”) is translated “at that very moment” by Good News Translation; Barclay has “there and then,” and New Jerusalem Bible “from that moment.” See comments at 8.13 and 9.22.

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 .