Paragraph 14:3–5

14:3a

Now: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now is usually translated as “For.” It indicates that the events in 14:3–12a are the reason/basis for Herod’s statements in 14:2. Herod wrongfully killed John (14:7–10), so he may have thought that God corrected that wrong by causing John to live again.

The events of 14:3–5 happened several months or even a year before 14:1–2. The story of Jesus does not resume until 14:12b. You may want to indicate that a change in time begins here at 14:3.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Because earlier
-or-
For previously
-or-

⌊He said that⌋ because ⌊some⌋ months earlier
-or-
Some time earlier

Herod had arrested John: This clause means that Herod commanded his soldiers to arrest John. Herod himself did not arrest John.

Here are some other ways to make this clear:

Herod had ⌊earlier ordered his men to⌋ arrest John
-or-
Herod ⌊sent his soldiers, and they went and⌋ arrested John

and bound him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bound means “tie” a person so that he cannot escape. Here the soldiers tied John’s arms and/or legs with either ropes or chains.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and tied him ⌊with ropes/chains⌋
-or-
and he had him tied up (Good News Translation)

This word does not imply that the soldiers tied John so tightly that he could not move.

14:3b

and put him in prison: In some languages the idea of put him in prison is expressed as a verb. For example:

caused him to be imprisoned

Other languages do not have a specific word for prison. These languages can express the idea of “put in prison” as:

locked/tied in a room

14:3c

on account of Herodias: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on account of means “because of” Herodias. When John told Herod that it was not lawful for him to have Herodias, he offended both Herod and Herodias. As a result, Herodias had a grudge against John (Mark 6:19a). So Herod put him in prison “to appease Herodias” or “to make Herodias happy.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

because of Herodias (New International Version)
-or-
as a favor to…Herodias (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Herod did this for Herodias (God’s Word)

Herodias: The word Herodias is the name of a woman. You should write the name Herodias according to the spelling system that your language uses for a woman’s name.

She is a new person in the story. If your language has a particular way to introduce new people into a story, you should use it here.

his brother Philip’s wife: Herodias had been married to Philip. Philip was Herod’s older brother. Herod divorced his first wife to marry Herodias. And Herodias divorced Philip to marry Herod. Then Herod and Herodias got married while Philip was still alive.

Because Herodias was no longer married to Philip, it may not be natural in your language to use the phrase Philip’s wife. You may need to say:

Herodias, who had previously been married to Herod’s ⌊older⌋ brother Philip

-or-

Herodias, who was formerly the wife of Philip, ⌊older⌋ brother of Herod

© 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.

14:35a

the men of that place: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as men:

(1) It refers specifically to men. The Greek word is the more specific term “males,” so it should be translated as “men.” For example:

when the men of that place (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version)

(2) It refers generally to people. For example:

When the people there (New Century Version)

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Matthew uses the specific Greek word for men rather than the more general word often translated as “people.” It would be the men who would be available and more likely to send messengers throughout the region. The women would most likely be in their homes or buying at the market.

This entire phrase refers to the men of the town and region of Gennesaret.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the men who lived there
-or-
the local men
-or-
the men there (God’s Word)

recognized Jesus: The verb recognized refers to seeing and knowing who a person is. The men had seen Jesus before, so when they saw him this time, they knew who he was.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

identified Jesus
-or-
saw Jesus, they knew who he was
-or-
saw him and said that he was Jesus

14:35b

they sent word: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sent word indicates that the men sent a message saying that Jesus was there.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

they sent a message
-or-
sent messengers (God’s Word)
-or-
they told people (New Century Version)
-or-
they spread the news

to all the surrounding region: This phrase refers to the surrounding areas. It was likely those places that were a day’s walk away or less.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to the whole surrounding area ⌊that Jesus had come⌋
-or-
all around there that Jesus had come (New Century Version)

14:35c

all the sick: This phrase refers to anyone who had something wrong with them, either physical, emotional, or mental. This phrase includes those controlled by a demon.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those who had something wrong with them

-or-

those who were not well

© 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.

15:31a

The Greek begins this verse with a conjunction that Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but that some English versions translate as “so that.” It means “for this reason, therefore, so.” This conjunction indicates that 15:31 is the result of 15:30.

Here are some other ways to begin this verse:

• Use a conjunction. For example:

As a result (NET Bible)
-or-
Therefore/So

• Begin the verse without any conjunction. For example:

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking… (New International Version)

The crowd: This phrase refers to the same people as the “large crowds” of 15:30a. The expression you use here should refer to the same group of people.

was amazed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was amazed indicates that the people were amazed.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

were amazed (New International Version)
-or-
were astonished (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
marveled (New American Standard Bible)

15:31b

they saw the mute speaking: The crowd saw each type of handicapped person (the mute, crippled, lame, and blind) healed and functioning normally. In some languages, it may be more natural to say that the crowd “heard” the mute speaking rather than say that they saw the mute speaking. For example:

they heard the mute speaking. They saw…
-or-
Everyone was amazed at what they saw and heard. (Contemporary English Version)

15:31c

the crippled restored: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as restored means “whole,” or “undamaged.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the maimed made whole/complete
-or-

⌊they saw⌋ the handicapped made healthy
-or-
the crippled restored (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the crippled made well (New International Version)

15:31f

they: The pronoun they refers to the crowds. They are the same people who were amazed in 15:31a. The people whom Jesus healed probably also glorified God. But here the focus is on the crowds who saw all these miracles.

glorified: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as glorified means “spoke well about.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

praised (New International Version)
-or-
honored
-or-
spoke highly of

the God of Israel: The term Israel here refers to the “people of Israel.” Also the use of the word of indicates that the people of Israel have a relationship with God. It does not mean that God belongs only to Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

God of ⌊the people/nation of⌋ Israel
-or-
God of the Jews/Israelites

-or-

God ⌊whom the people⌋ of Israel ⌊worship⌋

General Comment on 15:31

It may be more natural in your language to list the people healed first and then the reaction of the crowd. Here is an example:

Therefore, the mute were now speaking, and the crippled were now well, and the lame were now walking and the blind were now seeing. The crowds saw ⌊all this⌋ and were astonished, and they praised the God of Israel.

© 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.

16:24a

If anyone: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If does not indicate uncertainty. So this phrase doesn’t say that Jesus did not know whether anyone wanted to follow him. Jesus used this word to refer to all those who want to follow him.

Here are some other ways to translate it without making it seem uncertain:

Anyone who
-or-
Those who (God’s Word)
-or-
The people who

anyone: Jesus was speaking to the disciples who were with him, but he talked about people everywhere at any time. Translate this in a way to include any person.

come after Me: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as come after Me refers to becoming a disciple of Jesus. Being a disciple often meant following a teacher around from place to place and learning from him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to be my follower (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to follow me (New Century Version)
-or-
to be my disciple

16:24b–d

he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me: The Greek phrases that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me are three indirect commands. A person who desires to be one of Jesus’ disciples must do three things:

(a) He must deny himself

(b) He must take up his cross

He must follow Jesus as a disciple.

Indicate in a natural way in your language that a person must do each of these actions in order to be a follower of Jesus.

16:24b

he must deny himself: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deny himself means “refuse to do what he wants to do.” A disciple of Jesus must give up the right to do what he wants to do. He must do what his master wants him to do.

Here are some other ways to translate deny himself:

you must forget about yourself (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
must say no to the things they want (God’s Word)
-or-
he must let go of his own desires
-or-
he must not do what he wishes/wants to do but what I wish

In some languages, there will be an idiom or figure of speech for this. For example:

turn his back on himself
-or-
remove from his thinking the things he wants to do

16:24c

take up his cross: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as take up means “carry.” For example:

carry your cross (Good News Translation)

This same phrase occurs in 10:38a.

This phrase refers to the way that Roman soldiers made criminals suffer and die. They forced a condemned criminal to pick up a large wooden cross. He had to carry it to the place where he would be put to death. Carrying a heavy cross was painful. Then the soldiers nailed him on the cross to die.

In this context, Jesus used this phrase figuratively. He meant that anyone who wanted to become his disciple must be willing to suffer and die. Jesus was willing to suffer and carry his cross to the place where he died. So a believer must also be willing to suffer for Christ even if it means dying.

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase take up his cross:

• Translate the figure of speech literally and add a footnote that explains the meaning. Here is a sample footnote:

In the time of Jesus, a person who was condemned to be nailed to a cross was forced to carry the cross. He carried it to the place where he would be nailed to it. So Jesus was saying that a person who wants to be his follower must be ready to suffer and die.

• Translate the figure of speech and also explain the meaning in the text. For example:

he must be willing to carry his cross, ⌊meaning to suffer and die for me⌋

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

They must be willing even to give up their lives (New Century Version)
-or-
must willing to suffer and even die for me

If you follow this option, think about adding a footnote that gives Jesus’ literal words.

16:24d

and follow Me: This phrase is a figurative expression that means “be my disciple.” It means the same thing as “come after Me” in 16:24a. Disciples usually followed their teacher wherever he went. By doing this, they learned from his example and his teaching.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

follow me ⌊and be my disciple⌋

-or-

be my disciple

© 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.

Section 18:1–4

Jesus’ disciples must be humble

Jesus’ disciples were sometimes concerned about their own reputations. They were also concerned about what their roles would be in the kingdom that Jesus announced. In this section, they asked Jesus directly about this concern. (The parallel passage in Mark 9:34 shows that the twelve disciples were arguing among themselves about which one of them would be the greatest in God’s kingdom.) Jesus answered them in a way that showed that the greatest person in the kingdom was not whom they thought. Jesus told them that the greatest person in the kingdom is the person who humbles himself and becomes like a child.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (New International Version)
-or-
Who is the greatest?

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 9:33–37 and Luke 9:46–48.

Paragraph 18:1–4

18:1a

At that time: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At that time is more literally “at that hour.” This phrase indicates that the events in this section happened shortly after the events at the end of chapter 17. It does not necessarily mean that this story happened an hour after the previous one.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

About that time (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Shortly/soon after that
-or-
Then/Later

the disciples came to Jesus: The words came to refer to the disciples “approaching” Jesus. They approached him with a question.

The disciples did not come to Jesus from a great distance. They were already with him in Capernaum. But the previous section talked about only Jesus and Peter. In this section, all the disciples are together with Jesus.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

the disciples approached Jesus

the disciples: For help in translating the word disciples, see the note at 5:1c.

18:1b

Who then is the greatest: The word greatest refers to the most important person. It is the person with the highest rank or status. It is the person whose name is above everyone else’s name.

In this question, the disciples were asking about themselves. They wanted to know which one of them would be the greatest. They were not asking about Jesus himself or God.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

Who is the most important person
-or-
Who ⌊among us⌋ is the most honored/respected person
-or-
Who has a name that exceeds every other name

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

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

• As a noun. For example:

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

• As a verbal expression. For example:

The way that God rules his people

-or-

The way that God cares for his people as king.

See kingdom of heaven in the Glossary for more information.

This same phrase occurs in 4:17c and 5:3b.

© 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.

18:33

This verse is a rhetorical question. The king used this rhetorical question to rebuke the servant.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a tag question. For example:

You should have mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you, should you not?

• As a statement followed by a “why” question. For example:

I had mercy on you. Why did you not have mercy on your fellow servant?

• As a statement. For example:

You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I had mercy on you. ⌊So⌋ you should also have mercy on your fellow servant.

Translate this rebuke in a way that is most natural in your language.

18:33a

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Shouldn’t you includes a verb that is often translated “it is necessary.” In this context, it indicates what is the servant’s duty.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you must have mercy on your fellow servant
-or-
you are required/obligated to have mercy on your fellow servant

have had mercy on: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have…mercy on means “pity” someone,” or “have compassion” on someone because of their condition. For example:

show pity (Contemporary English Version)

18:33b

just as I had on you: The verb had is the same verb as “had mercy” in 18:33a. The king expected the servant to pity his fellow servant as the king had pitied him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

like I pitied you

-or-

like the way that I did to you

© 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.

19:30a

But: There is some contrast here between two types of people. The people who leave their possessions and family for Jesus’ sake are contrasted with the people who are first in this world. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the word But.

many who are first will be last: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as first means “most important.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as last means “least important.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

many who are high/great now will become low/humble
-or-
many people who are big now will be small in the future
-or-
many people who are respected much now will be respected little in the future
-or-
Many who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future (New Century Version)

19:30b

and the last will be first: Some words are implied but not repeated here. The complete clause would be:

and many people who are last will be first

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

many who are low/humble now will become high/great
-or-
many people who are small now will be big in the future
-or-
many people who are respected little now will be respected much in the future

-or-

many who have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future (New Century Version)

20:32a

Jesus stopped: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stopped means “stood.” In this context, it indicates that Jesus stopped walking and stood still.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus stood still (New Revised Standard Version)

called them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called means “called out to” or “summoned.” In this case, Jesus probably called the blind people to come to him. He did not just shout out to them from a distance.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

called them over (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
called them ⌊to come⌋
-or-
called them ⌊to him⌋

20:32b

What do you want Me to do for you?: This is a similar question to the general one Jesus asked the mother of the two Zebedee brothers in 20:21a. Here it is a more explicit question about what he could do for these two.

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this question as indirect speech. For example:

what they wanted him to do for them

© 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.