SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:42

12:42a–b

Verse 12:42 is another example like the example in 12:41. In some languages, it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

Also
-or-
Likewise

The Queen of the South: This phrase refers to the Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10:1–13. Her country was far to the south of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The Queen of Sheba (Good News Translation)
-or-
The queen of a country to the south

will rise at the judgment with this generation: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rise is a different Greek verb than “stand” in 12:41a. But it is probably similar in meaning. There are the same issues of interpretation as with “stand” in 12:41a. Follow the same interpretation here as there.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

will also stand up against this generation on judgment day (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will also give testimony against you on the day when God judges people

12:42c

for: Verse 12:42c is the reason that the queen of the South will condemn this generation. The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for.

Here are some other ways to introduce this reason:

because
-or-

⌊She will accuse them⌋ because

she came from the ends of the earth: The phrase the ends of the earth is an expression that means “the places on earth that are very far away.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

she came from a distant land (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
she came from far away (New Century Version)
-or-
She traveled a long way (Contemporary English Version)

to hear the wisdom of Solomon: The word wisdom means “the ability to understand events and know the right action to take.” Solomon was king of Israel after his father David, and God gave very great wisdom to him.

In some languages, it may not be possible to speak about wisdom as a noun. If this is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Solomon’s wise words
-or-
Solomon’s right and just thinking

Solomon: Solomon was one of the kings of Israel. In some languages, it might be good to make this clear in the text. For example:

⌊King⌋ Solomon

12:42d

As in 12:41d, there is some important, implied information in this part of the verse. Jesus implied here “but you did not listen to me.” The Queen of Sheba traveled a long distance to listen to King Solomon. Jesus was right there with the people, but they did not listen to him.

Here are some other ways to include this implied information:

• Put it after 12:42d. For example:

and someone greater than King Solomon is here, ⌊but you did not listen to him⌋.

• Put it before 12:42d. For example:

But ⌊you did not listen to⌋ the person among you who is greater than King Solomon.

and now One greater than Solomon is here: Translate this clause as you translated 12:41d, using the name of Solomon instead of Jonah.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:24

Section 13:24–30

Jesus told the parable about the weeds in the wheat

In this section, Jesus told the parable about the weeds and the wheat. He explained the meaning of this parable later in 13:36–43.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The parable of the weeds
-or-
Weeds among the wheat

This parable occurs only in Matthew.

Paragraph 13:24–26

13:24a

Jesus put before them another parable: This clause is a figure of speech. It compares placing a parable before people to putting food in front of people for them to eat.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus told them another parable (New International Version)
-or-
Here is another parable he gave them (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Here is another story Jesus told (New Living Translation (2004))

them: This pronoun refers to the crowds mentioned in 13:2 and later in 13:34. It does not just refer to the disciples. You may want to make this clear in your translation. For example:

the people
-or-
the crowd

13:24b

The kingdom of heaven is like: Here Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to the whole situation described in the parable in 13:24–30. He did not compare the kingdom of heaven to just the man.

If people in your area will think that the comparison is only to the man, you may want to indicate that the comparison is to the whole parable. Here are some ways to do this:

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to (English Standard Version)
-or-
The kingdom of heaven is like the story about
-or-
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when (Contemporary English Version)

kingdom of heaven: This phrase last occurred in 13:11b. You should translate it here as you did in other places in Matthew such as 11:11c.

13:24c

a man who sowed: The verb sowed is the same verb as in the parable of the sower (13:3–8, 13:19–23). It refers to scattering seed by throwing.

The way that the farmer sowed the seed in this parable is not important to the meaning of the parable. So if scattering seed is not a normal way of sowing, you may want to use a more general term for planting seed here. For example:

planted (New Living Translation (2004))

good seed: We would expect that when a farmer sows seed in his field, he would always sow good seed. So the word good would not normally be necessary. The fact that it is here indicates that a problem is coming.

field: This word refers to a large area of ground that the farmer has prepared for planting food plants.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:56

13:56a

Aren’t all His sisters with us as well?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses surprise and emphasizes that the people of Nazareth knew that his sisters lived there. The people doubted that Jesus could become someone important, because his sisters were not important people and did not marry anyone important.

Here are some ways to translate this surprise, doubt and emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

All his sisters are ⌊still⌋ with us, aren’t they?

• As a statement. For example:

All his sisters are ⌊still⌋ with us ⌊in this town⌋.
-or-
All his sisters live here too.

Translate this surprise, emphasis, and doubt in a way that is natural in your language.

His sisters: Jesus was the first-born, so his sisters were younger sisters.

13:56b

Where then did this man get all these things?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses both surprise and doubt. This clause is similar to the rhetorical question in 13:54d. Translate this clause in a similar way.

Here are some ways to translate this surprise and doubt:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

So where did this man get/learn all these things?

• As a statement. For example:

We wonder where/how this man got/received these things!

Translate this surprise and doubt in a way that is natural in your language.

Where then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then is the conjunction that is normally translated as “therefore.” This word indicates the conclusion of something. Here, the people concluded all their rhetorical questions about Jesus with this general question.

Here is another way to translate this word:

So, where

all these things: The words all these things refer to the “wisdom and miraculous powers” of 13:54d.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:30

14:30a

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between Peter walking on top of the water (in 14:29b) and Peter sinking into the water (in 14:30b). The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

when he saw the strength of the wind: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the adjective “strong” here. For example:

when he saw the strong wind (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, NET Bible, King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts do not have an adjective here. For example:

when he saw the wind (Revised Standard Version)

(New International Version, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has the most version support.

he saw the strength of the wind: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he saw the strength of the wind indicates that Peter noticed the effects of a strong wind. He saw the waves and felt the strong wind blowing.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he felt the strength of the wind
-or-
he noticed the strong wind (Good News Translation)
-or-
because of the strong wind
-or-
he saw the waves/water that the big wind was blowing

14:30b

beginning to sink: The verb sink refers to going down into the water. Peter walked on top of the water for a while, but his fear interfered with his faith and he began to sink into the water.

It is not known how far he sunk before calling out. But at least his head was still above the water. Perhaps part of his upper body was also above water.

cried out: This phrase refers to yelling or shouting. The phrase cried out does not refer to weeping.

Here is another way to translate this verb:

shouted (New Living Translation (2004))

save me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as save in this context means “rescue (from danger)” or “save (from death).” It is the same word used for eternal salvation, but you may need to use a different term to make the meaning of “rescue” clear.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

rescue me
-or-
save me ⌊from death⌋

-or-

help me

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:26

15:26a–b

But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”: Jesus responded to the women’s request by telling a parable. In this parable the “children” represent the Jews. The dogs represent the non-Jewish peoples of the world. The term bread refers to things that will benefit people. (In this context it refers specifically to the help that Jesus gave to people by healing them.) Jesus told the woman that he was in the world to give help to the Jews first. It was not proper for him to give these things to non-Jews before he gave them to Jews.

The meaning is clearer in the book of Mark. Mark includes the clause “First let the children have their fill” (Mark 7:27a). The dogs were fed later.

In some languages, it will be good to include a footnote to explain the meaning of the parable.

15:26a

But Jesus replied: Jesus responded to the woman’s request by telling a parable. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

He answered ⌊with a parable⌋

It is not right: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as right also means “good.” For example:

It is not good (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
It is not proper/fit
-or-
It is bad

to take the children’s bread: This phrase refers to “taking” or “picking up” bread that is set aside for children. Jesus says it is bad to not give the bread to children to eat, and give it to dogs instead. This phrase does not refer to “grabbing bread away from” children after it has already been given to them.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to take the bread for children
-or-
to pick up the food of children

See the General Comment after 15:26b for another way to translate the verb take.

bread: Bread was the main food of the people who lived in that area at the time of Jesus. Here the word bread is used in a figurative sense to refer to all food. If the people in your area do not commonly eat bread, it may be more natural to translate the word bread as “food.” For example:

food (God’s Word)

15:26b

and toss it to the dogs: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as toss refers to the way that people gave food to dogs. In some languages, it is more natural to use another verb. For example:

and give it to the dogs (New Century Version)
-or-
and feed it to dogs (Contemporary English Version)

Some languages have one word for “wild dogs” and another word for “house dogs.” If your language is like that, you should use the word that means “house dogs.”

General Comment on 15:26a–b.

The Greek uses two verbs to describe what happens to the bread. It uses “take” in 15:26a and “toss” in 15:26b. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the two verbs as one verb. For example:

to give children’s bread to dogs

-or-

to throw/toss children’s food to dogs

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:19

16:19a

I will give you the keys: Many commentators agree that the word keys here represents “power and authority.” Jesus gave Peter authority in the kingdom of heaven. He gave him the authority to bind and loose things. Jesus did not give Peter literal keys.

Here are some other ways to translate the word keys:

• Translate the word keys literally and include a footnote to explain what it represents. For example:

I will give you the keys
-or-
I will give to you the things to open the door

Here is a sample footnote:

“Keys” represent the authority of the person in charge of a house. He carries the keys which allow him to open and close all the doors in that house. Here Jesus gave Peter the authority to bind and loose things in the kingdom of heaven.

• Translate what the word keys represents. For example:

I will give you authority

the kingdom of heaven: When you translate the phrase the kingdom of heaven, there are two issues to consider:

Issue 1: The meaning of heaven

In the phrase the kingdom of heaven, the word heaven is a figure of speech called metonymy. A metonymy is a word that refers to something else that is related to the word. Here, heaven refers to God, but it refers to him indirectly by naming the place where he lives and rules. The Jews considered God’s name to be so holy that they hesitated to say it. So instead of saying God’s name directly, they often used the name of the place where he lives and rules. Because Matthew was writing primarily to Jews, he often used the word heaven to refer to God.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.” Matthew is the only book that uses the phrase the kingdom of heaven. All the other New Testament books use “the kingdom of God,” and even Matthew uses it five times.

Here are some other ways to translate heaven in this context:

• Make some information explicit. For example:

⌊the one/Lord who lives in⌋ heaven

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

God

Issue 2: The meaning of the kingdom of heaven

Both the kingdom of heaven and “the kingdom of God” refer to God ruling over his people. God’s rule is not simply giving orders or commands to people. It also includes his protection, care, and blessing for them. God leads, protects, and cares for his people. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. The phrase kingdom of heaven does not refer to a land or country that God rules over.

Here are some other ways to translate the kingdom of heaven:

• As a noun. For example:

the kingdom/rule of ⌊the one who lives in⌋ heaven
-or-
the kingdom of God
-or-
God’s kingship
-or-
the time of God’s rule over his people

• As a verbal expression. For example:

God rules his people
-or-
God cares for his people as king

16:19b–c

Whatever you bind…whatever you loose: The Greek verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bind and loose normally mean “tie” and “untie.” Here they are used in a figurative way.

There are several ways to interpret these words. Here are the two main interpretations:

(1) They refer to forbidding (binding) or permitting (loosing) various kinds of behavior and doctrine. According to this interpretation, Christ gave Peter the authority to decide which actions/deeds were forbidden and which were permitted.

(2) They refer to preventing (binding) or permitting (loosing) people to enter God’s kingdom. According to this interpretation, Christ gave Peter the authority to lock or unlock the door of the kingdom. He could permit some people to enter, and he could prevent others from entering.

Churches interpret this verse in various ways. If possible, you should translate in a general way that will allow either interpretation.

Here are some other ways to translate bind and loose:

don’t allow…allow (New Century Version)
-or-
forbid…permit

Whatever: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Whatever can refer to many different kinds of things.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

that which
-or-
the things (New Century Version)
-or-
anything (Contemporary English Version)

you: In Greek, the pronoun you is singular. It refers to Peter.

will be bound in heaven…will be loosed in heaven:
The Greek verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be bound and will be loosed are both passive. The phrase in heaven is a way to refer to something God does. So, these clauses indicate that God will also “bind” and “loose.”

Here are some other ways to translate these verbs:

• Use passive verbs. For example:

will be bound ⌊by God⌋ in heaven…will be loosed ⌊by God⌋ in heaven

• Use active verbs. For example:

God in heaven will allow….he will not allow (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:23

17:23a

They will kill Him: Here, Jesus was still speaking about himself. In some languages, it will be more natural for Jesus to speak about himself using the pronoun “me” rather than Him. For example:

they will kill me

and: This is the conjunction that usually joins the next event to the previous one. Since the idea that someone could come back to life after dying is unexpected, some English versions translate this conjunction as “but.” For example:

but on the third day (New Living Translation (2004))

If it would be clearer in your language to make the contrast explicit, you should do so.

on the third day: This phrase indicates that Jesus would come back to life on the third day after he was killed. That is, the first day (Friday) he was killed and buried. The second day (Saturday) he was in the tomb. The third day (Sunday) he rose from death.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

three days later
-or-
three days after ⌊my death⌋

He will be raised: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be raised means that Jesus will be raised from the dead. He will be brought back to life (by God).

Here, Jesus continued to talk about himself. In some languages, it will be more natural for Jesus to use the pronoun “I” rather than He. For example:

I will be raised

This verb is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

he will be brought back to life (God’s Word)
-or-
I will be raised from death

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ will bring him back to life
-or-

⌊God⌋ will make me live again

17:23b

And: This is the connecting word that usually joins the next event to the previous one. Some English versions do not translate it here.

Here are some other ways to connect 17:23b to 17:23a:

Then (God’s Word)
-or-
When the disciples heard these words

the disciples were deeply grieved: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deeply grieved means that the disciples became extremely sad. They did not understand the meaning of Jesus’ words about his return to life after death. They only understood that he was going to be killed. They did not understand that it was God’s plan for him to die.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

the disciples became very sad (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:28

Paragraph 18:28–30

18:28a

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between a king who forgave a large debt (18:24–27) and a servant who did not forgive a small debt (18:28–30). Some English versions (like the Berean Standard Bible) indicate this contrast by beginning this paragraph with the conjunction But.

In some languages, the contrast is obvious, and it may not be natural to introduce it with a conjunction like But. If that is true in your language, it may be more natural to begin this paragraph with a simple time word or phrase. For example:

Then (Good News Translation)
-or-
Later (New Century Version)

You should do what is most natural in your language.

when that servant: This servant was the same man from 18:27. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

when that same servant (English Standard Version)
-or-
Then the man (Good News Translation)

went out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went out indicates that the servant left the presence of the king or left the house of the king. If including the location is more natural in your language, you should use a general reference such as “there.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

left ⌊there⌋
-or-
left ⌊the palace/house⌋ and ⌊then⌋

18:28b

he found: There are several ways to interpret the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as found:

The servant went searching for the other servant. For example:

he went to (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Living Translation (2004))

The servant met the other servant without planning to. For instance:

he came upon (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
he happened to meet (Contemporary English Version)

(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). There are several contrasts in this story, and this is one of them. The king had the servant brought to him. The king could do that because he was of higher status than the servant. But the servant did not have a higher status than his fellow servant. He had to go find him to get his money.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he went to (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he went searching for and found

one of his fellow servants: The words fellow servants refer to the fact that both people referred to in this verse were servants of the king.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

another servant (New Century Version)
-or-
a second servant ⌊of the king⌋

a hundred denarii: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible transliterates as denarii is the plural of “denarius.” A denarius was the name of a Roman coin. This coin was worth the same as the wages for a farm worker for one day of work.

One hundred denarii was almost nothing in comparison with ten thousand talents.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

• Transliterate the word denarii or “denarius.” For example:

a hundred denarii (New International Version)

It you use this option, you may want to include a footnote. A sample footnote is:

A hundred denarii were worth the same as the wages for a farm worker for a hundred days of work. This may have been a large debt for the second servant. But it was very, very small compared to the debt of the first servant.

• Use the name of a general kind of coin. For example:

a hundred silver coins (NET Bible)

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

an amount much smaller than his own debt
-or-
a small debt

Some English versions use the American currency “dollars.” It is not recommended that you translate the term a hundred denarii using an amount of money in your national currency. The value of the currency used may change over time. In addition, using a modern currency removes this story from its historical setting.

18:28c

He grabbed him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grabbed means to “take hold of” or “seize” something. In this context, it probably means that he grabbed him by the throat. For example:

he grabbed him by the throat (NET Bible)
-or-
he grabbed him around the neck

began to choke him: In this context, the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as choke refers to putting his hands around the other servant’s throat and squeezing with an intent to kill.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he started choking him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he started squeezing his neck

18:28d

saying: In Greek, the form of the verb saying indicates that the first servant spoke while he was choking the second servant.

Here are some other ways to indicate this:

at the same time he said
-or-
While he was doing this he said

Pay back what you owe me!: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what refers to the hundred denarii that he owed.

Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Pay back all that you owe me!
-or-
Pay me the money you owe me! (New Century Version)

-or-

Reimburse what you owe me!

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:42

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:56

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:30

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:28

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