When … recognized him represents a Greek participle, which most translations prefer to transform into a temporal clause, as does Revised Standard Version. However, Good News Translation chooses “where … recognized Jesus,” and New English Bible “There Jesus was recognized by the people of that place.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has a different style yet: “The people of that place recognized Jesus and spread the news of his arrival in the entire region.” Of course, restructuring may be done in an unlimited number of ways, provided that the logical connection is not interrupted.

Notice that these models we have cited use an expression such as “people” rather than men. The text is not referring only to adult males.

Recognized him can be “knew that it was Jesus,” “knew he was Jesus,” or “saw that it was Jesus.”

Sent is without an object in the Greek text. Good News Translation supplies “for the sick people”; New English Bible has “sent out word”; New American Bible drops sent and substitutes “spread the word.” They sent … and brought to him all that were sick may be translated “They sent people to tell everyone in that region that Jesus was there. Then those people brought everyone who was sick…” or “They sent people to bring to Jesus all the sick people in that region.”

All is intentionally introduced by Matthew; it is lacking in the Marcan parallel (6.55). When Matthew refers to the healing activity of Jesus, he likes to use “all” or “every” (see 4.24; 9.35).

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 .