SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:37

Paragraph 22:37–40

22:37a

And he said to him: The pronoun he refers to Jesus. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus said to him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
He answered (Good News Translation)

You shall love: In Greek, the verb love is future tense, but it has the force of a command. Also, the pronoun You is singular, but it applies to everyone. You should use whatever form is most natural in your language for such a command. Remember that God originally gave this command.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You (plur.) must love
-or-
Love (plur.)
-or-
Everyone/People must love

love: The verb love refers to actions that someone takes on behalf of someone else. It refers to acts of kindness and service. Love for God suggests a way of life. In many languages, the concept of love will be mainly what a person feels for a spouse or children or other people he/she is close to. However, if you have a way of expressing the idea of devotion and commitment to God, use it here. The word love does not refer primarily to an emotion or something that you feel. However, that can be a part of the meaning.

The verb love is is also in 5:43b.

the Lord your God: The phrase the Lord your God indicates that the Lord is the God with whom people have a relationship. It implies that the Lord guides and cares for them as God, and they worship and serve him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the Lord, who is your God
-or-
your Lord/Master God
-or-
God who is your Lord/Master

In some languages, the phrase your God is not natural. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the Lord God, whom you ⌊worship/serve⌋
-or-
God the Lord, who ⌊cares for⌋ you
-or-
the Lord, the God whom you ⌊worship⌋

This phrase is also in 4:7b. Translate it the same way here.

22:37b

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind: The Greek words that the English Standard Version translates as heart, soul and mind are very close in meaning. Each of these three words occurs with the word all. Together, they express the idea of the whole of a person’s life.

Some languages may not have three terms to distinguish these ideas. Those languages can combine these three terms into two terms, or into one phrase. For example:

with all your inner being and with all your thinking
-or-
with your whole life

If you are doing cross-references or footnotes, this is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:5.

with all your heart: In Greek culture, the heart is the center and source of inner life. This is where thinking, feeling, and decision- making happen. Some languages use a different organ such as “liver” for this concept. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

with all your inner being
-or-
with all your insides

with all your soul: The soul is often used to describe the whole of a person as a living being. Sometimes it has a focus on a person’s feelings and emotions. Sometimes it has a focus on the quality of being in a body. But it is more than just flesh and bones. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

with all your spirit

-or-

with your whole life

with all your mind: The mind refers to the thinking and planning processes of a person. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

with all your thinking/thoughts

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2:1

Section 2:1–12

Wise men came and honored Jesus

In this section, Matthew showed his readers that:

(a) Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem as scripture predicted (even though he would later move to Nazareth, and people considered him to be a Nazarene).

(b) The Jewish religious teachers who knew the law did not go to worship the king of the Jews. It was the Gentile wise men who worshiped him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Visit of the Wise Men (NET Bible)
-or-
Visitors from the East (Good News Translation)

Paragraph 2:1–2

2:1a

This verse part begins with the Greek conjunction that many English versions translate as “Now” here. Here “Now” means “at that time.” It does not mean “today.” Many English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate the Greek conjunction here, but rather let the context indicate that what follows took place at that time. In some languages, it may be natural to begin 2:1a by translating this Greek conjunction to show that what happens in this section happened after the preceding section and “during the time of Herod” as 2:1b indicates. For example:

Now (English Standard Version)

After Jesus was born: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as After Jesus was born tells us the setting of the time that the wise men came.

Here are some other ways to begin this section:

⌊One day,⌋ after Jesus was born
-or-
When Jesus was born (Contemporary English Version)

The main clause in this verse is in 2:1c. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the main clause before the background information. See the General Comment after 2:1c for some ideas.

Jesus was born: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was born is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

• As a passive verb. For example:

Jesus was born

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊Mary⌋ gave birth to Jesus
-or-

⌊Mary⌋ bore Jesus

in Bethlehem: The word Bethlehem is the name of a village about eight kilometers (five miles) south of Jerusalem. Another way to translate this word is:

in ⌊the village/town of⌋ Bethlehem

in Judea: The word Judea is the name of a province in the country of Israel. Another way to translate this word is:

⌊the province/region of⌋ Judea

2:1b

during the time of King Herod: The phrase during the time of King Herod refers only to the time when Herod was king. It does not refer to the thirty or so years of his life before he became king.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

during the reign of King Herod (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
during the time when Herod was king (Good News Translation)
-or-
when/while King Herod was ruling

This phrase is also background information. See the General Comment after 2:1c for other ways to translate this phrase.

2:1c

The Greek of 2:1c begins with a word that is often translated as “behold.” It literally means “look” or “see.” This word focuses attention on what follows. It indicates that what follows is important, unexpected, or amazing. In this passage, the wise men unexpectedly arrived in Jerusalem. The Berean Standard Bible omits this word.

If you have a term that gets the attention of people and is natural in this context, you should consider using it here. Here are some examples:

suddenly
-or-
Look!
-or-
unexpectedly

This word also occurs in 1:20 and 1:23. Consider how you translated it there.

Magi: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Magi refers to men who studied the movement of stars and planets. They believed that the movement of stars and planets could predict future events.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

astrologers (Revised English Bible)
-or-
men who studied the stars (Good News Translation)
-or-
men who watched the stars to learn the future
-or-
men who could tell the meaning of the stars

Some English versions such as the Berean Standard Bible transliterate this Greek word as Magi.

from the east: The phrase from the east means that the wise men came from a country or countries that were east of Jerusalem. Their journey probably took a long time. Your translation should not indicate that they were from nearby.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

from eastern lands (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
from a country to the east

arrived in Jerusalem: The word Jerusalem is the name of the main city of the province of Judea. It was the most important and largest city in that region. Strangers such as the wise men would naturally go there when searching for someone.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

arrived in ⌊the city of⌋ Jerusalem

General Comment on 2:1a–c

In verse 2:1, 2:1c is the main clause and 2:1a–b add background information. You may want to change the order of the clauses in this verse to better show what is the main clause and what is background information. One way to do this is to put 2:1c earlier in the verse. For example:

⌊One day,⌋ 1csome astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem. 1a⌊This happened⌋ after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. 1bAt that time, Herod was the king of Judea.

-or-

⌊One day,⌋ 1aafter Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, 1csome astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem. 1bAt that time, Herod was the king of Judea.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 3:10

3:10

Verse 3:10 is a metaphor. Its literal meaning is that someone has aimed his axe at trees that do not produce good fruit. He is ready to cut down these trees and burn them.

John the Baptist was comparing the Pharisees and Sadducees to these trees. He compared their behavior to the fruit of the trees. He compared God to the man who is ready to chop down the trees that had not produced good fruit. John was warning them that just as trees that do not produce good fruit will be chopped down and burned, so they will be severely punished by God if they do not show good works.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Translate it literally. For example:

There is an axe already at the base of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
-or-
The axe is already at the base of the trees. If a tree does not produce good fruit, it will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

If you translate the metaphor literally, you may wish to explain the meaning in a footnote. A sample footnote is:

John was saying that just as a man is ready to chop down any tree that does not produce good fruit, so God was ready to punish people who do not do good deeds that show that they have repented.

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

⌊God is like⌋ a man holding his axe at a tree trunk. ⌊If you do not show good works, you will be punished. This is like⌋ a tree that does not bear good fruit. He will cut it down and throw it into the fire.
-or-

⌊Just as⌋ ⌊a man⌋ is holding his axe ready to chop down a tree that does not bear fruit and throw it into the fire, ⌊in the same way God is ready to punish you if you do not do good things/deeds⌋.

• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:

You will soon be punished eternally ⌊by God⌋ if you do not do good deeds
-or-
God is ready to judge/punish you who fail to do good deeds that show that you have repented

3:10a

The axe lies ready at the root of the trees: This clause indicates that an axe is ready to cut down trees. It is implied that someone is holding the axe. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

⌊someone has his⌋ axe pointed/aimed at the trunk of trees ⌊ready to cut them down⌋
-or-

⌊a man is⌋ holding an axe at the base/trunk of trees. ⌊He is ready to cut them down⌋
-or-
the trees will soon be cut by a man with an axe

These words are a metaphor. For advice on translating this metaphor, see the examples above.

The axe lies ready: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ready emphasizes that the danger is immediate. The axe is right there, ready to strike. The tree is about to fall.

Here is another way to translate this word:

The ax is already (New International Version)
-or-
Even now the axe is laid (English Standard Version)

at the root of the trees: The phrase at the root of the trees refers to the part of the tree that is just above the ground, where an axe could cut it. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the base/trunk of the trees
-or-
at the bottom/foot of the trees

In some languages, it is not necessary to specify where the tree is cut down. For example:

to cut down the trees (New Century Version)

the trees: John did not name a specific type of trees, but it is clear from the context that he was referring to fruit trees such as fig trees.

3:10b

The metaphor continues here in 3:10b. People who do not do good works are compared to trees that do not produce good fruit. God will punish these people. They are compared to trees that are cut down.

For translation advice, see the examples above in 3:10.

and every tree: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as and introduces what happens as a result of the situation in 3:10a.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

so then
-or-
as a result
-or-
the result will be that

that does not produce good fruit: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as produce…fruit also occurred in 3:8. You should translate these words here as you did there.

will be cut down: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be cut down is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

is cut down (Revised Standard Version)

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊he⌋ will cut it down

3:10c

The metaphor continues by describing how the tree is burned and so destroyed. This refers to being punished by God.

thrown into the fire: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as thrown is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

thrown into the fire (Revised Standard Version)

• As an active verb. For example:

and will throw it into a fire

-or-

then ⌊he⌋ will throw it on a fire ⌊and burn it⌋.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 4:25

4:25a

The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee: The phrase large crowds indicates a very great number of people. The word crowds is plural because many people came from Galilee, many others came from Decapolis, many others came from Jerusalem, and so forth.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Very many people
-or-
Large numbers of people

that followed Him: Here the phrase followed Him probably means “went with Jesus.” In other contexts, it can mean “became a disciple of Jesus.” Some people in the crowd may have followed Jesus for the purpose of being his disciples, but others followed him only to see his miracles. Here you should translate followed in a literal way. For example:

went with him
-or-
accompanied him
-or-
followed him wherever he went (New Living Translation (2004))

4:25b

the Decapolis: The word Decapolis means “the ten cities.” It refers to a region where there was a group of ten cities that had special status under Roman law.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

• Transliterate the term as the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions do. For example:

the Decapolis
-or-
Dekapolisi

• Translate the meaning of the term. For example:

the Ten Towns (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Ten Cities (God’s Word)

Jerusalem, Judea: The names Jerusalem and Judea are mentioned together, but Jerusalem is a city and Judea is a district. Jerusalem was the main city in Judea. You may want to make it clear that Jerusalem was in Judea. For example:

Jerusalem and ⌊other areas of the district of⌋ Judea

4:25c

and beyond the Jordan: The phrase beyond the Jordan refers to land on the east side of the Jordan River. Jerusalem was on the west side of the Jordan River. Other land was referred to as land beyond, across, or on the other side of the Jordan River.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the land across the Jordan River (New Century Version)
-or-
from east of the Jordan River (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

the land on the other side of the Jordan River

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 5:32

5:32

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of 5:32b and 5:32c. Compare the order and structure of the clauses in the Berean Standard Bible and the New Century Version below.

32aBut I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, 32bexcept for sexual immorality, 32cbrings adultery upon her. (Berean Standard Bible)

32aBut I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife 32cforces her to be guilty of adultery. 32bThe only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. (New Century Version)

5:32a

But I tell you: The clause But I tell you also occurs in 5:22a and 5:28a. Translate it here as you did there.

you: In the Greek text, the pronoun for you is plural.

anyone who divorces his wife: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anyone refers only to men.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

any man who divorces his wife (God’s Word)
-or-
if a man divorces his wife (Good News Translation)

5:32b

except for sexual immorality: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as except for sexual immorality means “except on the ground of sexual immorality” (as in the English Standard Version). This indicates that the only acceptable reason for divorce is sexual immorality.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

except for marital unfaithfulness (New International Version)
-or-
for any reason other than unfaithfulness (God’s Word)
-or-
unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin (Contemporary English Version)

sexual immorality: There are several ways to understand the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sexual immorality:

(1) It refers specifically to adultery. This means that the woman has been unfaithful to her husband after the marriage. For example:

she has sexual relations with another man (New Century Version)

(2) It refers generally to any kind of sexual immorality before or after marriage.

(3) It refers to an unlawful or illegal marriage. For example:

an illicit marriage (New Jerusalem Bible)

Most English versions use a word or phrase that follows interpretation (1) or (2), but it is often not possible to tell which one. It is recommended that you also follow interpretation (1) or (2).

5:32c

brings adultery upon her: In that culture, a divorced woman almost always remarried. She remarried because there was no satisfactory way for her to support herself alone. If the first husband has divorced her even though she has been faithful, he has caused her to become unfaithful to him if she marries another man. In that sense, he brings adultery upon her.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

causes her to commit adultery (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
makes her guilty of sexual sin ⌊if she marries again⌋

5:32d

And he who marries a divorced woman: In this context, the phrase he who refers to another man who marries a divorced woman.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

if another man marries that divorced woman
-or-
if someone else marries the woman ⌊whose first husband⌋ divorced ⌊her⌋

commits adultery: In God’s view, it is as if the second husband is having sexual relations with another man’s wife. God wants a man to stay married to his first wife, and he wants the woman to remain married to her first husband. Their marriage binds them together as if the two of them were one person.

You will probably want to translate this expression the same way as in 5:32c.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 6:16

Section 6:16–18

Jesus taught about fasting

In this section, Jesus taught his disciples that when they fast, they should do it in a way that other people are not aware of it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Fasting
-or-
Teaching about fasting

Paragraph 6:16–18

This paragraph contains the third example of how to apply the command (in 6:1) not to do good works before people. This third example is about fasting.

6:16a

When: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When also means “whenever” or “each time.” It assumes that believers will fast.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

whenever (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Every/each time
-or-
At any time

See how you translated When in 6:2 where it has the same meaning.

fast: The word fast means “choose not to eat food temporarily for a religious/spiritual reason.” Generally, when someone fasts, he does not eat any food, but he can drink water. People usually fast for a day, but the fast can be a shorter or longer period of time. People fast to humble themselves, to show sadness for their sins, or to seek God’s will or help.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

stop eating ⌊for a time⌋ for religious reasons
-or-
not eat ⌊for a day/time⌋ to seek God’s help
-or-
abstain from eating in order to pray

do not be somber: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as somber means “sad.” Jesus was referring to looking sad in order that people will realize that you are fasting and will think that you are religious. The full clause warns against making one’s face look sad or unhappy.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

do not put on a sad face (Good News Translation)
-or-
do not look sad
-or-
do not let it be known by your appearance/face

the hypocrites: The word hypocrites refers to people who pretend to be something that they are not.

This word also occurs in 6:2c. Translate it here as you did there.

6:16b

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces a more detailed explanation of what was said in 6:16a. Do not translate this verse as if it were the reason for 6:16a. It further explains 6:16a, but it is not a reason. Some English versions begin a new sentence here and do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.

they disfigure their faces: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disfigure refers to not washing their faces and not keeping their hair and beards looking neat. They did this to look like people who were very sorrowful.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

They neglect their appearance (Good News Translation)
-or-
They make their faces look sad (New Century Version)
-or-
they act like they are suffering
-or-
they do not wash their faces nor comb their hair

6:16c

to show men they are fasting: In Greek, this clause is literally “so that fasting may be seen by men.” This clause gives the purpose for their “disfigured faces” (in 6:16b). They made their faces look sad in order to make it obvious to others that they were fasting.

Although the Berean Standard Bible uses an active phrase here (to show men), the Greek verb is passive (“may be seen”).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• As a passive. For example:

so that they may be seen by others that they are fasting

• As an active, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

so that people may see that they are fasting (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
so that everyone will see that they are fasting (Good News Translation)
-or-
to make it obvious that they’re fasting (God’s Word)

men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as men refers to people in general here, both men and women.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

other people
-or-
people

6:16d

Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward: This clause is identical to the clause in 6:2. You should translate it here as you did there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 7:14

7:14a

But: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts begin this verse with a word that functions as an exclamation. For example:

How narrow the gate (New American Bible)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts begin this verse with the conjunction that means “For/because.” For example:

For the gate is narrow (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

The Berean Standard Bible, along with most English versions, do not follow option (2), but neither do they clearly translate option (1). Instead, they make explicit the contrast between 7:13 and 7:14 by beginning this verse with But. It is recommended that you also indicate the contrast between these two verses.

On the other hand, here is one way to indicate both the Greek exclamation and the contrast:

But very narrow is the gate
-or-
But the gate is really narrow

small is the gate: In the Greek, the word small is the same as “narrow” in 7:13a. You should translate it here as you did there. For example:

the gate is narrow
-or-
the entrance is small

narrow the way: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as narrow refers to something being pressed/squeezed from both sides. This way/path is the opposite of the “wide/easy” path in 7:13b. You should translate it in a way that contrasts with “the way is easy.” For example:

the road is narrow (New Century Version)
-or-
The road that leads there is so hard to follow (Contemporary English Version)

that leads to life: The word life refers to eternal life. In some languages a literal translation would refer only to life on earth. If that is true in your language, you may want to add some implied meaning. For example:

⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
life ⌊that never ends⌋
-or-
life ⌊in heaven⌋

Both the narrow gate and the narrow road lead to life. It is not only the narrow road. One way to make this clear is:

But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow (Contemporary English Version)

7:14b

only a few find it: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as find includes the meanings: “find from searching,” “find accidentally,” and “obtain, secure, or receive” Here it probably refers to finding after searching.

The pronoun it could refer to the gate, the path, or life. Because this clause is parallel to “enter through it” in 7:13c, this pronoun probably refers to the narrow gate. One way to translate this clause is:

few people find that gate

In some languages, the word find may not also imply entering. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:

only a few people find it ⌊and enter⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 8:17

8:17a

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: There are two ways to interpret the way that 8:17a is connected to 8:16b–c:

(1) It is the purpose for which Jesus healed people. According to this interpretation, Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick so that scripture would be fulfilled. For example:

He did this to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version)

(2) It is the result of Jesus healing people. According to this interpretation, Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick, and as a result scripture was fulfilled. For example:

So God’s promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said (Contemporary English Version)

(God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The Greek conjunction in this sentence clearly indicates purpose.

A similar clause occurs in 1:22. See how you translated that clause.

to fulfill: The word fulfill means “to make come true” or “to make happen as it was foretold/prophesied.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

He did this to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said (Good News Translation)
-or-
He did these things to bring about what Isaiah the prophet had said (New Century Version)

what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as through the prophet Isaiah can also be translated as “by the prophet Isaiah” (as also in the English Standard Version). This phrase indicates that the following words did not come from Isaiah himself. They came from God through Isaiah. God spoke the following words to Isaiah, and Isaiah then spoke them to the people. Isaiah also wrote them down.

This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah (New International Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
what ⌊God⌋ spoke ⌊to the people⌋ through the prophet Isaiah

prophet: A prophet is a person who spoke on behalf of God. God spoke to the prophet Isaiah through words and visions. Then the prophet told God’s message (the prophecy) to the people or wrote it down for their use.

See how you translated prophet in 1:22 and 4:14. See also prophet in the Glossary for further information.

8:17b

Verse 8:17b is a quote from Isaiah 53:4. It is also a Hebrew form of poetry called a parallelism. In a parallelism, an idea is repeated.

In the example below, one parallel pair in 8:17b is underlined. The other parallel pair is made bold. Notice that the parts of each pair are similar in meaning.

He took on our infirmities

and carried our diseases.

In some languages, people will think that the parallel parts in 8:17b describe different events. In other words, they will think that “He took on our infirmities” and “carried our diseases” describe different events.

If that is true in your language, you should:

• Indicate that both expressions refer to the same thing. For example:

He took on our infirmities,

⌊I repeat, he⌋ carried our diseases.

• Combine the parallel parts. For example:

He took on our infirmities and diseases.
-or-
He took away all our infirmities.

He took on our infirmities and carried our diseases: Early Christians understood these words from Isaiah to refer to Jesus dealing with sin, sorrow and sickness when he died on the cross. The verb took on means that in some sense Jesus “took away” people’s sins and diseases, and he “took them on himself.” The verb carried is a synonym. He “carried away” or “removed” people’s sins and sicknesses, and he “carried/bore” them on himself on the cross. He paid for them and removed them when he died. In the passage from Isaiah, the verbs took and carried seem to have only a spiritual sense.

However, Matthew applied this verse to Jesus healing people. The way Matthew applied this verse from Isaiah, the verb took means “took away” and the verb carried mean “removed” in the sense of “healed.” These verbs have a physical sense.

Here are some other ways to translate these verbs:

• Use verbs that refer only to the spiritual sense of “bearing” people’s sickness as found in Isaiah. For example:

He took our suffering on him and carried our diseases. (New Century Version)

• Find verbs that can be used in both a spiritual and physical sense. For example:

He himself took our sickness and carried away our diseases. (Good News Translation)

• Use verbs that refer to the physical healing in the Matthew context. For example:

He healed our diseases and made us well. (Contemporary English Version)

He: The pronoun He is emphasized in the Greek. Some English versions show this emphasis. For example:

He himself (New Jerusalem Bible)

General Comment on 8:17b

Old Testament prophets sometimes used the past tense to speak a prophecy about an event that would happen in the future. The past tense views the event from God’s viewpoint after the event happened. Isaiah lived more than 600 years before Jesus. Isaiah spoke this prophecy that was fulfilled in 8:16–17. It may be more natural in your language to use something other than past tense here. For example:

He will take away our illnesses and will remove our diseases.

But to a reader of your translation, all these events are past. So using the past tense may be acceptable.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:37

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 3:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 4:25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 5:32

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 6:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 7:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 8:17

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American Bible Society