The ten: some languages will require that ten be followed by the noun which it modifies, which is “disciples.” Moreover, since James and John are also disciples, the full construction should be “the other ten disciples” (Good News Translation). Several translations have “the other ten” (An American Translation, Phillips, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible), leaving “disciples” without specific mention.

Good News Translation has rendered heard it as “heard about this.” Sometimes translators have to say “heard what those two had done” or “heard about the mother’s request.”

Indignant is the preference of many English translations (New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New American Bible), though for some speakers it may appear somewhat high level. Both Good News Translation and Moffatt prefer “angry.” Elsewhere in the Gospel this verb is found in 21.15; 26.8.

The two brothers are specifically mentioned in the Greek text, but the ten … the two brothers is restructured by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch as “the other ten … the two.” Each language must, of course, do what seems most natural in the context. Once again (see verse 20) Living Bible introduces the names “James and John” (see Mark 10.41), thereby violating the integrity of the Matthean text, which intentionally avoids mention of the two names throughout the narrative. Mentioning the disciples by name draws immediate attention to these two men and their own prideful ambition, rather than to the teaching of humility and self-denial that Matthew is trying to convey to his readers through the inclusion of the narrative.

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 .