Begone (Good News Translation “Go away”) is the same verb used in 16.23, where it is followed by the pronoun construction “from me.” A few ancient manuscripts include the words here, a translational device that may be necessary in some languages. In both instances the command is given to persons (here the Devil, later Peter) who attempt to lead Jesus in a path that would avoid suffering. Translators should try to find an expression for Begone that is some kind of sharp retort or rebuke, as in “Leave!” or “Leave me alone!” “Get away from me” may be acceptable, although slang should be avoided.
Whereas the word “Devil” is of Greek origin, the word Satan is of Hebrew origin, but the reference is to the same being. Originally he was conceived of by the Jews as an almost neutral being, with the responsibility of pointing out to God the failures of his people. However, by New Testament times he was described as a totally evil being in complete opposition to God. As we pointed out in Matthew 4.1, Satan is used as a proper noun and should be written in the way it would be pronounced in the language of the translation.
Again, as in verses 4 and 7, we see the formula it is written, as Jesus once more quotes from scriptures in replying to the Devil. Translations should have the same formula here as in those verses. It is written (Good News Translation “The scripture says”) is a reference to Deuteronomy 6.13. In the Septuagint the word only is omitted, and the verb worship appears as “fear” in the major Septuagint tradition (the word “worship” is a favorite in Matthew: 2.2, 8, 11; 4.9; 8.2; 9.18; 14.33; 15.25; 18.26; 28.9).
Translators must not mistake You shall worship for a simple future tense. It is an imperative, as is clearly seen in Good News Translation. As with the second person “your” in Matthew 4.7, You meant Israel in the quotation from Deuteronomy. If “you” in the translation will make readers think the command was addressed to Satan, then it can be changed to an impersonal “one should worship” or “a person should worship.”
For comments on worship, see 2.11. Here it can be translated as “to acknowledge as divine,” “to pray to,” “to respect greatly,” or “to accept as Lord.”
The idea that Israel was to worship only the Lord is emphasized by putting him only before the verb. This same emphasis can be done in several ways: “Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve” or “Worship the Lord your God; serve no one but him.”
Serve translates a verb which may be used in the technical sense of “the carrying out of religious duties, especially of a cultic nature.” However, in the present context worship and serve are used with the same meaning, the second verb forming a parallel to the first.
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 .