Translation commentary on Matthew 27:48

One of them refers to one of the soldiers.

At once ran and took a sponge is probably better expressed by New Jerusalem Bible (“quickly ran to get a sponge”) and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (“ran quickly for a sponge”). If sponge is not known, translators may have to use a very general description such as “something that soaks up water (or, liquids).”

Vinegar (so also Moffatt, Barclay) is the traditional rendering. It is found also in New Jerusalem Bible, but with a footnote: “Sour drink of the Roman soldier.” The interpretation expressed in the footnote of New Jerusalem Bible is perhaps correct, and a number of modern translations head in this direction: “cheap wine” (Good News Translation, New American Bible), “sour wine” (An American Translation, New English Bible), and “wine vinegar” (New International Version). It is quite possible that the act was originally one of sympathy or mercy, which was later interpreted as an act of cruelty on the basis of Psalm 69.21: “… and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

As in verse 29, reed is probably better translated as “stick.”

Gave it to him to drink (Barclay, New International Version “offered … to drink”) may be intended in the Greek to convey the idea of force or coercion: “tried to make … drink” (Good News Translation, New American Bible). The Greek is one word, “gave-to-drink,” corresponding to the similar English word “fed.”

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 .

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