There is quite a variety of ways that churches have translated pray. In some traditions the words used have really referred to ritual recitations or incantations. In other places a word that really means “beg” has been used. Translators should avoid both these ideas and concentrate instead on the idea of “speak with God” or “talk to God.”
When will normally be rendered as “On those occasions when” or “Whenever.”
In Greek the “you” of verse 1 is plural, while in verses 2-4 “you” is singular. Verses 5 and 7-14 use the plural form, but verse 6 is in the singular. This alternation between singular and plural takes place throughout the Sermon on the Mount and is apparently of no exegetical significance. Translators should use the form of the second person that is most natural in their language.
On hypocrites, see comments on Matthew 6.2. Jesus says, whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, which can also be expressed “you must not pray as the hypocrites do.”
Good News Translation starts a new sentence to mark the transition shown by for in Revised Standard Version. Other translators can say “Because what they do is…” or “They are the kind of people who….”
Love to in this context means “like to,” that is, they very much enjoy doing it. It should be noted that the object of love is the entire construction to stand and pray, not just the verb to stand. New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible render “they love to say their prayers standing up,” which may make the connection between verb and object clearer. In addition there are two or three ways that the clause they love to stand and pray can be restructured. Translators may say “They love to stand in the synagogues or on the street corners to pray,” “They love to make their prayers when standing in the synagogues and on the street corners,” or “They love to do their prayers by standing in the synagogues and on the street corners and saying them.” Of course, in many languages translators can follow Revised Standard Version quite closely with no difficulty.
Synagogues: see comments on 4.23; 6.2.
Street corners renders a Greek phrase which is different from “streets” of verse 2. Street corners would presumably be even more crowded with people than the streets. Street corners may not be readily understood by many rural readers, so translators may say “where streets cross each other in a town” or “where several paths come together in a town.”
The passive construction that they may be seen by men appears as an active formation in Good News Translation: “so that everyone will see them.” New American Bible renders “in order to be noticed.” Barclay is dramatic: “Their idea is to be seen praying by as many people as possible.” Another rendering is “They want many people to see them. That’s why they do that.”
Notice that men is translated as “everyone” or “many people.”
Truly, I say to you is the same expression used in verse 2; a similar form is used in 5.18.
They have received their reward translates the same statement made in verse 2.
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 .