SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:26



19:26a

The Greek begins this verse with a word that some English versions translate as “But.” It simply indicates a change from one speaker to another. In this context, it does not indicate a contrast. Many English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate this word. In many languages, it will not be necessary to translate this word either.

looked at them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as looked at is the Greek word for “look” plus a suffix that intensifies it.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

looked directly/intently
-or-
looked straight (Good News Translation)

19:26b

With man this is impossible: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as With in this context means “on the part of” or “in relation to.”

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man is plural and in this context refers to all people.

The word this refers to “being saved.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

As for people, they are not able to do this
-or-
This is something people cannot do (New Century Version)
-or-
It is impossible for people [to save themselves] (God’s Word)

In some languages, it may be necessary to say what people are saved from. As with 19:25b, “saved” here is equivalent to gaining eternal life and entering into the kingdom of Heaven. So the use of the verb saved implies saving from punishment and destruction. For example:

It is not possible for people to save themselves ⌊from punishment

19:26c

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between what is impossible for man to do and what is possible for God to do. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

with God all things are possible: The phrase with God is parallel to the phrase “With man” in 19:26b. Translate it in the same manner. For example:

as for God, all things are possible
-or-
God can do all things (New Century Version)

all things: In this context, the phrase all things refers to any deed. God can do anything he desires, including saving people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all deeds
-or-
everything (Good News Translation)

-or-

anything

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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