6:23a

But if your eyes are bad: This clause means that the person’s eyes have something wrong with them, so they cannot see well. Figuratively, it means that the person has bad spiritual eyesight. He does not see/understand the truth about God and does not focus his thoughts on the truth. He has a bad attitude toward Jesus and is not willing to receive Jesus’ teaching. In the context of not storing up earthly wealth, it probably also implies that the person is selfish and is not willing to share with others.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

But if your eyes are diseased
-or-
but if you cannot see clearly/well

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the figurative meaning of bad eyes explicit. For example:

but ⌊a person who rejects my teaching is like⌋ someone with bad eyes. If your ⌊thinking⌋ is like that,

In some languages, it will be good to explain the figurative meaning of bad eyes in a footnote. A sample footnote is:

A bad eye represents a bad attitude. It represents the thinking of a person who is not willing to receive Jesus’ teaching. When such a person thinks about money, he will be selfish. He will not want to share his money with others.

6:23b

your whole body will be full of darkness: This clause means that light cannot enter the body from the eye, so the inside of the person is completely dark. Here, the meaning of this figure of speech is that the person will not understand the truth at all. He will be filled with sinfulness and evil.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the inside of your body will be dark
-or-
there will be darkness in the whole body
-or-

⌊it is as if⌋ your entire mind/being will be dark

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the figurative meaning of darkness explicit. For example:

⌊you will not understand the truth at all. It will be as if⌋ your whole body is full of darkness.

6:23c

then: In Greek, this clause begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then. This conjunction introduces the results of darkness where there should be light.

Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

So if the light in you is darkness (Good News Translation)

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction.

If…the light within you is darkness: This clause refers to the situation where the eye is supposed to bring light into the body. But if the eye is bad, then the person will be in darkness. So in the place where there should be light, there was instead darkness. This means that a person who thought that he was filled with goodness is actually filled with evil.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

if the only light you have is really darkness (New Century Version)
-or-
And if the light you think you have is actually darkness (New Living Translation (2004))

6:23d

how great is that darkness!: This clause indicates that the darkness is very great. This means that you completely fail to understand the truth and that there is a lot of sin/evil in you.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

how terribly dark it will be (Good News Translation)

-or-

then you have the worst darkness (New Century Version)

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 7:21–23

7:21a

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter: The clause who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ means “who calls me their Lord/Master.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Among those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ not all of them will enter
-or-
Some people who say to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will not enter

In some languages, it may be more natural to make Lord, Lord indirect speech. For example:

Not everyone who calls me his Lord/Master will enter

Lord, Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master,” “owner” or “a person who has great authority.” It is used to refer to someone greater in status or power. People used it to address God the Father and Jesus. See how you translated this word in 3:3 and 5:33.

The double address of Lord, Lord probably indicates honor, respect, and deep emotion. The speakers were insisting that Jesus is their Lord. But as 7:23 indicates, the people who said this were not true followers of Jesus.

In some languages this double address will indicate a different meaning. If that is true in your language, indicate the honor and respect in another way. For example:

my Lord
-or-
dear/beloved Lord

will enter the kingdom of heaven: In this context, the word enter refers to “becoming a citizen of.” When people believe in Jesus, they become citizens/members of the kingdom of heaven.

The phrase the kingdom of heaven refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that he rules over. It refers to the relationship that he has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king.

Here Matthew used the word heaven as a Hebrew idiom to humbly refer to God.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
-or-
become one of those who are in the kingdom of ⌊the one who lives in⌋ heaven
-or-
be added to those over whom God rules
-or-
will God make part of his reign

This clause also occurs in 5:20.

7:21b

but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven: The verb and object from 7:21a are implied but are not repeated. The complete sentence would be: but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven ⌊will enter the kingdom of heaven⌋.

It may be more natural in your language to include some of the implied words. For example:

but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven ⌊will become one of the people whom God rules⌋
-or-
but ⌊the person whom God will make part of his reign is⌋ the person who does my heavenly Father’s will

does the will of My Father in heaven: This clause means “does what God desires.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

does what my Father in heaven wants (God’s Word)
-or-
obey my Father in heaven (Contemporary English Version)

My Father in heaven: The clause in heaven further describes Jesus’ Father, namely, God. It does not imply that there are other fathers of Jesus and only this one is in heaven. In some languages, it will be necessary to translate the correct meaning in a different way. For example:

my Father in heaven (Good News Translation)

-or-

my heavenly Father

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

8:24a

The storm probably occurred while Jesus and the disciples were far from shore. In some languages, the danger will be made clearer by including some implied information. For example:

⌊When they were far from shore, then⌋
-or-

⌊In the middle of crossing the lake,⌋
-or-

⌊While crossing the lake⌋

Suddenly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Suddenly indicates that something extraordinary is going to happen. Here, it is a storm that is unexpected.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

And behold (English Standard Version)
-or-
Unexpectedly
-or-
Without warning (New International Version)

a violent storm: In this context, the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a violent storm refers to a storm with very strong winds. This storm quickly blew the water into big waves.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a severe storm (God’s Word)
-or-
a big/strong wind

came up: The expression came up is a figurative way of saying that the storm began.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

came/arrived
-or-
blew
-or-
occurred/happened

on the sea: The phrase on the sea refers to lake Galilee.

8:24b

so that: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that introduces a result of 8:24a. The storm was so great that, as a result, waves were entering the boat.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

with the result that
-or-
and so

In some languages, it is more natural to leave this conjunction untranslated. See the examples below.

the boat was engulfed by the waves: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was engulfed means “covered.” Here, this phrase indicates that the waves were higher than the boat. The waves were coming over the top of the boat and filling it with water.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

The waves were covering the boat (God’s Word)
-or-
and waves started splashing into their boat (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and the boat was in danger of sinking (Good News Translation)

8:24c

but: It is surprising and unexpected that Jesus was sleeping in the boat during the furious storm. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this unexpected event with the conjunction but.

Here are some other ways to indicate that the following event is unexpected:

Yet (God’s Word)

-or-

However

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

9:22a

This verse begins abruptly. In some languages, it may be more natural to begin this verse with a conjunction or some type of phrase to connect it to the previous verses. For example:

But Jesus turned (King James Version)
-or-

⌊Then⌋ Jesus turned
-or-

⌊When she did that,⌋ Jesus turned

Jesus turned and saw her: The verb turned indicates that Jesus turned around to face the woman who was behind him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus turned around and saw her (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus turned around, and when he saw her (New Living Translation (2004))

Take courage: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates with the idiom Take courage means “Cheer up” or “Be encouraged.” It is a word of encouragement. The woman expected Jesus to be angry at her for touching him. So, he tried to comfort her.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Cheer up, (God’s Word)
-or-
Be encouraged (New Century Version)
-or-
Don’t worry! (Contemporary English Version)

This word also occurs in 9:2d.

daughter: The word daughter indicates that Jesus cared for the woman. She was precious to him. You should use an expression that would be appropriate for Jesus to use to indicate his care and concern for a woman in need.

If using the word daughter in your language will indicate that this woman was Jesus’ real daughter, you should use another word that indicates that Jesus cared for her. For example:

dear one
-or-
my friend
-or-
my child

9:22b

your faith has healed you: In this clause Jesus told the woman why she was healed. She was healed because of her faith. It was not a magical touching of Jesus’ clothes that healed her.

In this context, the words your faith refers to the woman believing that Jesus had the power to heal her.

In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun faith with a clause. For example:

your believing has made you well
-or-
you have trusted ⌊in me⌋, and that is why you have been healed
-or-
because you believed ⌊that I could heal you⌋, you have been made well
-or-
your believing has ⌊caused⌋ you ⌊to be⌋ made well

has healed you: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has healed is the same verb as in 9:21b. You should use the same expression here.

The tense of this verb indicates that the woman had already been healed when Jesus spoke these words. She was healed because of her faith when she touched the clothes of Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

you are cured
-or-
has healed you (New International Version)
-or-
you are made well/better

9:22c

was cured: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cured is the same verb as “healed” in 9:22b. You should use the same verb here.

This clause refers to the woman being healed from her bleeding sickness only. It does not indicate that she was always healthy without any type of sickness afterwards. In some languages, it may be necessary to include some implied information here. For example:

was healed ⌊from that sickness⌋

from that very hour: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from that very hour is more literally “from that hour/time.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) It means that the woman was healed from the time that she touched Jesus’ clothes. In other words, she was healed as soon as she touched Jesus’ clothes. According to this interpretation, the words “your faith has healed you” are an explanation of why the woman was healed. For example:

From that day on, the woman was healed.

(2) It means that the woman was healed as soon as Jesus said the words “your faith has made you well.” According to this interpretation, the words “your faith has made you well” are what caused the woman to be healed. For example:

And instantly the woman was made well. (Revised Standard Version)

Many English versions translate the Greek phrase literally, and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In the parallel passage in Luke 8:44, it is clear that the woman’s bleeding stopped as soon as she touched Jesus’ clothes. She was already healed when Jesus said “your faith has made you well.” So you should not use an expression that indicates that she was healed only when Jesus spoke in 9:22a–b.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

From that time on

-or-

From that day on

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 10:16–20

10:16a

Behold: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Behold indicates that something extraordinary or important will happen or be said. Here, the amazing thing is the danger that the disciples will face.

Here is another way to translate this word:

Listen! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Watch out!

I am sending you out: This clause refers to Jesus sending the disciples to preach the good news, heal the sick, and so forth (10:7–8).

like sheep among wolves: This phrase is a comparison called a simile. In this simile, Jesus compared the disciples to sheep. He compared the people they will face to wolves. Sheep are in danger when they are among wolves. In the same way, the disciples will be in danger when they tell the good news to people who do not want to accept it.

Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

• Keep the simile. For example:

like sheep among wild dogs

• Make the comparison explicit in the text. For example:

⌊into danger⌋ like sheep among wolves
-or-
like sheep among ⌊dangerous⌋ wild dogs

• Make the parts of the simile explicit. For example:

I am sending you out ⌊to cruel/evil people. It is⌋ like ⌊sending⌋ sheep to wild dogs.

• Explain the simile in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

This is a picture of dangerous situations, because wolves attack sheep and eat them. Telling the good news of Jesus will sometimes be dangerous.

wolves: The word wolves refers to a type of wild dog. They weigh 60–80 kilograms. They roam around in groups and attack other animals and eat them.

If people in your area are not familiar with wolves, you may want to:

• Use different animals that have similar characteristics to wolves. For example:

panthers
-or-
hyenas

• Use a more general term. For example:

wild dogs
-or-
dangerous/wild animals

10:16b

therefore: In 10:16b Jesus gave two commands. The basis for these commands is the danger that he warned them about in 10:16a. These commands are introduced with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as therefore.

Here is another way to introduce these commands:

so (English Standard Version)

be as shrewd as snakes: This is a command. It is also a simile. In this command, Jesus told his disciples to be wise like serpents are wise.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shrewd means “sensible” or “prudent.” It refers to having good judgment in difficult situations. In Jewish culture, snakes were thought to be good examples of being cautious and careful.

If people in your area do not think of snakes as wise, translate the meaning without using a simile. For example:

be wise
-or-
be cautious/careful

as innocent as doves: This is a command. It is also a simile. In this command, Jesus told his disciples to be innocent like doves are innocent.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as innocent refers to being harmless (New Living Translation (2004)) or gentle (Good News Translation). Here it refers to not harming your enemies.

The doves are small birds like pigeons. In Jewish culture, doves were thought to be good examples of being innocent. If people in your area do not think of doves as innocent, you should translate the meaning without using a simile. For example:

be gentle

-or-

be harmless

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

12:8

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For indicates that 12:8 is the basis for Jesus declaring that the disciples were innocent (12:7). It is also the basis for Jesus deciding what was allowed on the Sabbath (12:1–7).

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Because
-or-

⌊I say this⌋ because

In some languages, it may be natural to simply begin a new sentence here without translating the conjunction.

the Son of Man: Jesus used the title the Son of Man to refer to himself. In some languages it may be necessary to add the pronoun “I” to show that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:

I, the Son of Man (New Living Translation (1996))

This phrase also occurs in 8:20b, 9:6a, 10:23c, and 11:19a. For help in translating this phrase, see the note under 8:20b. See also Son of Man in Key Biblical Terms for more information.

is Lord of the Sabbath: In this context, the word Lord means “owner” or “the one in authority over (something).” It refers to Jesus’ authority over the Sabbath day. He had this authority because he was the Son of Man, whom God sent. He had the authority to decide what people could or could not do on the Sabbath day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I…am master even of the Sabbath. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
I…have authority over the rest day.
-or-
I…have the right to decide what a person can do on the Sabbath.

-or-

I…have the authority to say what people are allowed to do on the Sabbath.

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

12:40a

For: Verse 12:40 explains what “the sign of the prophet Jonah” (12:39b) is. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For. Here this word does not mean “because.” It does not introduce a reason.

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here either. In other languages, there may be other ways to introduce an explanation. For example:

In other words
-or-
What I mean is
-or-
Let me explain

as: These words introduce a comparison. Here, 12:40a is compared with 12:40b.

Here are some other ways to introduce this comparison:

just as (English Standard Version)
-or-
In the same way that (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it is natural to mark only the second clause of a comparison, not the first clause. For example:

aJonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. bIn the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. (New Century Version)

Jonah was three days and three nights: The phrase three days and three nights refers to three full days in a row: a day and a night, a day and a night, and a day and a night.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

three days and nights (Good News Translation)
-or-
three full days
-or-
three whole days

in the belly of the great fish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as great fish refers to any very large creature that lives in the sea. It was large enough that it swallowed Jonah whole.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the stomach of a large fish
-or-
inside a huge fish

12:40b

so: This word indicates that 12:40b is the second part of a comparison. As mentioned in the note above, some languages mark only the second part of a comparison. For example:

aJonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. bIn the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. (New Century Version)

the Son of Man: Here Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. In some languages, it may be necessary to add the pronoun “I” to make it clear that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:

⌊I,⌋ the Son of Man

This phrase also occurs in 12:32a. You should translate it here as you did there. For help in translating this phrase, see the note under 8:20b.

in the heart of the earth: This phrase is a poetic way of saying “in a grave.” Jesus was referring to the time when he would be dead and buried.

This phrase is parallel to the phrase “in the belly of the great fish” in 12:40a. In some languages, it may be possible to keep this poetic structure. For example:

in the belly of a big fish…in the belly of the earth
-or-
in a big fish…in the earth/ground

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in a grave/tomb

-or-

buried

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.