In Greek this verse and the next consist of a series of clauses connected by the conjunction And (see Revised Standard Version), reflecting the form of Semitic Greek. Translators should use whatever devices are natural in their language to show the progression of the text. For example, most drop the And at the beginning of the verse or say something like “Later.” Or the And can be rendered more naturally as “Then” or “When Jesus entered the city.”
Temple translates a Greek word which refers to the entire complex, rather than specifically to the Temple building itself. The events described probably took place in the Court of the Gentiles, where moneychangers were allowed to set up their tables prior to the Festival of Passover. To distinguish between this word and the word which refers to the Temple proper, several translations have “Temple precincts” (Barclay, Phillips, New American Bible), while New International Version has “temple area.” In some areas, for example in West Africa, “Temple compound” will capture the idea exactly.
Temple of God (so also Moffatt) is “Temple” in most translations. The phrase of God is believed by TC-GNT to be “a natural expression, made in order to emphasize the profanation of the holy place.” Although it is not found in the parallel passages (Mark 11.15; Luke 19.45; see John 2.14), it is not something that a scribe would have deleted in order to make Matthew agree with the other Gospels, since it would not really have been objectionable to anyone. Moreover, the manuscript evidence in favor of “Temple” as opposed to temple of God is very strong.
Temple was discussed at 4.5. If translators have regularly been using an expression that uses “God” (for example, “House of God”), then it may be difficult to render temple of God any differently. Translators would not, of course, retain a repetition of of God.
Drove out (so most translations) translates a verb which suggests the exercise of force (literally “threw out”). It is in fact the same verb which Matthew uses of the exorcism of demons (9.34; 10.1, 8; 12.26; 17.19). The text does not say whether Jesus used force or simply commanded the people to leave (much as he drove out demons). “Made them leave,” “forced them out,” “told them to get out,” or “told them ‘Get out’ ” will all be acceptable renderings.
In the Greek text of Matthew, all who sold and bought (literally “all those selling and buying”) are placed together as a single group, assuming they are all merchants, whereas Mark (11.15) specifically speaks of two groups as “those selling and those buying,” assuming that the merchants are selling and the pilgrims are buying; Luke (19.45), on the other hand, is concerned to mention only “those who were selling” (merchants). The phrase is referring to the sale and purchase of animals, wine, oil, and other commodities necessary for sacrifice.
Sold and bought may require direct objects, as in “selling and buying what they needed for sacrifices.” Notice that “were selling and buying” in English reflects the fact that this was something in process. Sold and bought translated literally could mean it had happened once only.
The text says Jesus overturned the tables of the money-changers, that is, he turned over the tables where the moneychangers were conducting their business.
Money-changers were provided as a convenience to the Jewish pilgrims who exchanged their Roman and Greek coins for the proper coin with which the Temple tax had to be paid (see 17.24-27). With so many currencies in the world, most people are familiar with the process of changing money. However, some translators have had to say “people who exchanged money from one country for the money they used in the Temple.”
Seats can be “chairs” or “stools.”
Pigeons were the poor man’s sacrifice (see Luke 2.24). In many areas translators say “pigeons for sacrifice,” to ensure that their function here is understood. Matthew does not include Mark’s additional comment, “and he would not let anyone carry anything through the Temple courtyards” (11.16), a practice which was looked upon as desecrating the holy place by using it as a short cut.
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 .