SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:34

Paragraph 13:34–35

13:34a

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables: The phrase all these things refers to the teachings about God’s kingdom. He used the parables in 13:1–33 to teach these things.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus used parables to tell all these things to the crowds (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus spoke all those things ⌊about God’s kingdom⌋ in/using parables.

13:34b

Verse 13:34b says the same thing as 13:34a, but in a negative way. This is a way to emphasize 13:34a. Some English versions introduce this emphatic statement with the word “indeed.”

Here is another way to introduce this emphatic statement:

In fact (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages, it will be natural to simply begin a new sentence here, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

34aJesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. 34bHe did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story. (God’s Word)

He did not tell them anything without using a parable: This clause means the same thing as 13:34a, but it says it in a negative way. It means that Jesus did not talk to the people about the kingdom of God unless he used a parable. On later occasions, Jesus did not use parables. But during this part of his ministry, every time he taught about the kingdom of God, he used parables.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he said nothing to them when/if it was not with/in parables

-or-

he did not say anything ⌊about the kingdom of heaven⌋ to them unless he used a parable

In some languages, it may be necessary to translate this clause as a positive statement. In this case, this clause will be very similar to 13:34a. For example:

34aJesus used stories to tell all these things to the people; 34bhe always used stories to teach them. (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.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:8

14:8a

Prompted by her mother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Prompted means that her mother, Herodias, urged/encouraged her daughter what to say to Herod.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the girl’s mother told her to say (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Herodias told her daughter what to ask for (New Century Version)

The parallel passage in Mark 6:24 tells us that the daughter left the room of men and went to ask her mother what to do. In some languages, it may be natural to make some of this information explicit. For example:

⌊She asked her mother, and⌋ her mother told her to say

14:8b

Give me here…the head of John the Baptist: This clause implies that the daughter asked Herod to kill John by cutting off his head. Cutting off the head was a common method of killing someone in Roman culture.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I want the head of John the Baptist (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Bring to me here the head of John the baptizer

on a platter: The word platter refers to a large flat plate usually used for carrying food. But here the platter was only a way to carry the head. It does not imply serving the head as food.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

on a tray (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

on a plate

If the purpose of bringing the head on a platter is not clear in your area, you may want to explain in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

Cutting off the head was a common way to kill someone in Roman culture. Herodias wanted the head on a platter so she could see that John had been killed. The head would then be thrown away.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:4

15:4a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces an explanation of 15:3.

Here are some other ways to introduce this explanation:

For example (God’s Word)
-or-
For instance (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages, it may be natural to give an example without any conjunction to introduce it.

God said: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have God said. For example:

God said (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have God commanded. For example:

God commanded (Revised Standard Version)

(English Standard Version, King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version)

In this case, it is recommended that you follow the option that is most natural in your language.

Honor your father and mother: This is the fifth of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:12). The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Honor also means “respect.” To honor/respect your parents meant that you should help them with their needs.

Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Respect your father and your mother (Good News Translation)
-or-
You (sing.) must honor your father and your mother.

In Greek, this command is singular. But it is a command to each person. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural or another form. For example:

You (plur.) must honor your father and your mother.
-or-
A person must respect his father and his mother.

15:4b

Anyone who curses his father or mother: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as curses means “speaks evil of,” “insults,” or “reviles.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Whoever reviles father or mother (English Standard Version)
-or-
He who speaks evil of father or mother (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Whoever insults his father or mother (NET Bible)
-or-
Anyone who says cruel things to his father or mother (New Century Version)

must be put to death: This phrase indicates that the person must be killed. It means that other Jews must kill the person who speaks evil of his parents.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

must surely die (English Standard Version)
-or-
must be killed

-or-

⌊people⌋ must kill ⌊him⌋

General Comment on 15:4b

In some languages, it may be natural to change the order of the clauses in this part of the verse. For example:

They must kill him/the one who insults his father or mother

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:36

15:36a

Taking the seven loaves and the fish: This clause indicates that Jesus took the loaves of bread and the fish from the disciples. Then he held them in his hands while he gave thanks for them.

15:36b

He gave thanks: These words mean that Jesus thanked God for the food. For example:

gave thanks to God (Good News Translation)
-or-
thanked God for them (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and thanked ⌊God⌋ ⌊for the food⌋

15:36c

broke them: This clause means that Jesus broke/tore the bread and the fish into pieces.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and broke them into pieces (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he divided the food (New Century Version)

Some languages may have one verb for breaking bread, and another verb for breaking fish. You should use the words that are natural in your language.

gave them: The tense of the verb gave probably indicates a repeated or continued giving. Jesus miraculously multiplied the pieces of bread and fish as he was giving them to his disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

started giving them (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
began handing them (New Jerusalem Bible)

15:36d

and the disciples gave them to the people: In Greek, this phrase is more literally “and the disciples to the crowds.” The words gave and them are implied.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

who distributed the food to the crowd (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

the disciples shared/divided the pieces among the people

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:1

Section 17:1–13

Three disciples saw Jesus’ glory

In this section, Jesus changed his appearance. He made his face and his clothes shine very brightly. He did this in front of Peter, James and John. At the same time, the disciples saw Moses and Elijah. Then they heard the voice of God. When the disciples saw and heard all this, they understood that Jesus was not an ordinary teacher. They better understood that he really was the Messiah.

This section immediately follow 16:28 which says, “Truly, I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” This section begins to fulfill that verse.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The disciples saw Jesus’ appearance change
-or-
Jesus’ glory was revealed on the mountain

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 9:2–12 and Luke 9:28–36.

Paragraph 17:1–4

17:1a

After six days: The events in this section occurred six days after the events at the end of chapter 16.

Here are some other ways to begin this section:

Six days later (Good News Translation)
-or-
Six days after that
-or-
After six days passed

Jesus took with Him: This clause implies that Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to go with him. They went willingly with Jesus.

In some languages, it may be more natural to use a different verb here. For example:

Jesus asked/told…to go with him
-or-
Jesus invited/called…to go along with him

The verb took is closely connected to the verb “led” in 17:1b. In some languages it may be natural to use only one verb here. For example:

Jesus led Peter, James, and John up…

Peter, James, and John the brother of James: The phrase John the brother means that John was the brother of James. He was not the brother of Jesus.

In the New Testament, when James and John are mentioned, James is always listed first. This probably indicates that James was the older brother. If your languages make a distinction between older and younger brother, you can say:

James and John his ⌊younger⌋ brother

17:1b

and led them up: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as led…up indicates that Jesus went/climbed up the mountain while the disciples followed behind him.

In some languages, it may be more natural to say:

and they followed him up
-or-
and they climbed up

a high mountain: The Greek text does not indicate whether the men went to the very top/peak of the mountain. They went up high enough to get away from other people. Perhaps they went to the very top. Perhaps they went to a private place on the side of the mountain.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

on a high mountain (New Century Version)
-or-
onto a high mountain

by themselves: This phrase indicates that only Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the mountain. There were no other people in that area.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

where they were alone (Good News Translation)
-or-
away from other people

-or-

Only Jesus and his disciples were there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:6

18:6a–c

Verse 18:6 contains a comparison that has some implied information. Before you begin to translate 18:6, read the information below and consider the best way in your language to translate this entire comparison. (Do not miss the discussion further below about the meaning of the words and phrases in the three parts of 18:6.)

In 18:6, Jesus talked about two bad things:

(a) a bad crime: causing a child to sin

(b) a bad punishment: drowning in the sea

Jesus said that the punishment of (b) is better than the implied punishment for (a). To say it another way, the punishment for (a) is worse than the punishment of (b).

Languages indicate such comparisons in various ways. One way is the way the Berean Standard Bible translates it. Here are some other ways:

• One punishment is big. The other is little. For example:

6aBut if anyone causes to sin one of these little ones who believes in me, ⌊God⌋ will give him a really big punishment. 6bIf people tied a big stone around the neck of a person who did that 6cand threw him in the ocean so that he drowned, 6bthat would be a little punishment.

• One punishment is bad. Another thing is very bad or worse. For example:

6bIt is ⌊a⌋ bad ⌊punishment⌋ for someone to have a great millstone fastened around his neck 6cand to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 6a⌊But⌋ if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin ⌊he will receive a worse punishment⌋.

You should translate this comparison in a way that is natural in your language.

18:6a

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between doing a good thing (welcoming a child) in 18:5 and doing a bad thing (causing a child to sin) in 18:6. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

if anyone: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if anyone are the same as the words in 18:5a. You may want to use the same term here as in 18:5. For example:

anyone who (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the person who
-or-
if someone

causes…to stumble: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as causes…to stumble is used here with a figurative meaning.

There are several ways to interpret this verb:

(1) It refers to causing a believer to sin. For example:

if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin (NET Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers to causing a believer to stop believing. For example:

If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Living Translation (1996), God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of English versions.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

makes…sin
-or-
causes…to fall into sin (New Living Translation (2004))

This same verb occurs in 5:29a–b .

one of these little ones who believe in Me: The phrase one of these little ones refers to the same type of person as “a little child like this” in 18:5a. This means that Jesus used the term these little ones in a figurative sense. He was referring to people who are humble like children. He was referring to people of all ages who believe in him, both children and adults.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

one of these ⌊people who are like⌋ little children who believe in me
-or-
one of these believers who ⌊are like⌋ little children
-or-
These little ones believe in me. (God’s Word)

18:6b

it would be better for him: This clause introduces one half of a comparison of two punishments. The other half (what would be worse for him) is not stated. Both punishments are bad, but drowning is better, or not as bad.

If you are not able to make a comparison like this in your language, see the discussion above in 18:6a–c.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

it would be better ⌊in comparison⌋ for him
-or-
it would be less bad for him
-or-
a punishment that would not be as bad for him would be to have

to have…hung around his neck: This verb means “to hang” something, as you would hang a lamp from a hook or a necklace around your neck.

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

• Use a passive verb. For example:

to have…fastened around his neck (English Standard Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

for someone to fasten/tie…to his neck

a large millstone: This phrase refers to a type of stone that was used to grind wheat seeds into flour. Specifically, it was a large, round stone meant to be pulled by a donkey so that it rolled over the seeds and crushed them. It was very heavy.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a very large grinding stone
-or-
a heavy stone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
a large stone (New Century Version) a donkey pulling a millstone

18:6c

to be drowned: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to be drowned means “to sink” something in water. In this context, a person who was thrown into the sea with a large stone tied around his neck would sink and would not be able to breathe air. So he would die under the water.

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

• Use a passive verb. For example:

to be drowned

• Use an active verb. For example:

so that he drowns

in the depths of the sea: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the depths means “in the deepest part.”

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

in the deepest part of the ocean (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 18:6c

The Jews thought that drowning in the sea was a terrible way to die. They thought this in part because the body could not be buried and mourned over. You may want to include a footnote to explain some of this information. Here is an example footnote:

The Jews thought that drowning in the depths of the sea was one of the worst ways to die. So Jesus showed that causing a believer to sin was very bad indeed, because God would punish that person in a way that was worse than drowning in the depths of the sea.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:3

Paragraph 19:3–9

19:3a

Then: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then is the connecting word that usually joins the next event to the previous one. Some English versions do not translate it here. They allow the context to suggest the connection.

Here is another way to translate it:

And (English Standard Version)

some Pharisees: Some Pharisees came to Jesus. Not all of them.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

some members of the Pharisee group

For help in translating the word Pharisees, see the note at 3:7a.

came: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as came means that they approached Jesus. There is no indication of where these Pharisees came from. It is good to keep this as a general statement. For example:

Pharisees approached him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
some Pharisees came to Jesus

and tested Him: The word tested means “tried to trick/trap” him so that he fails. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to fail to answer the question well. They hoped that he would say something that was against the law of Moses. Then they could accuse him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in order to test him (NET Bible)
-or-
and tried to trap him (Good News Translation)
-or-
and tried to trick him (New Century Version)
-or-
and tried to trick him ⌊to give a bad answer⌋

This same verb occurs in 16:1b. You should translate it here as you did there.

Him: The pronoun Him refers to Jesus. Since this sentence begins a new paragraph, it may be natural in some languages to use his name. For example:

and tested Jesus

by asking: In Greek, this phrase is more literally “and saying.” But the Pharisees’ trap for Jesus involved a question. So many English translations use the word “ask” here.

It is also possible to start a new sentence here. For example:

They asked (New International Version)

19:3b

Is it lawful: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Is it lawful is more literally “Is it permitted.” This means “Does God’s/Moses’ law permit (a man to divorce his wife)?”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Does our Law allow a man (Good News Translation)
-or-
Is it permitted ⌊in the Law of Moses⌋ for a man

This same phrase occurs in 12:10c.

for a man to divorce his wife: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as divorce means “release,” “reject,” or “send away.” In this context, it refers to breaking the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to send away his wife
-or-
to break the marriage vows

his wife: The English phrase his wife is a way to speak in general.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

one’s wife (English Standard Version)

for any reason: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as any reason can also be translated as “any cause.” For example:

for just any reason? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
for any and every reason (New International Version)

-or-

for no matter what reason

Deuteronomy 24:1 says that a man could divorce his wife if he found something indecent about her. There were different ideas among the Pharisees themselves about how to interpret that verse. The Pharisees wanted to know what Jesus thought “something indecent” meant. Was it limited to just sexual unfaithfulness? Or could a man divorce his wife for anything he might be unhappy about? Whichever way he answered, some Pharisees would disagree with him.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:5

20:5a

So: Verse 20:5a is the result of what the master said to the workers in 20:4. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this result with the conjunction So.

they went: There is some implied information here. The full sentence would be:

they went to work in the vineyard. (New Living Translation (2004))

20:5b

He went out: The verb went out here is the same verb as in 20:3a. The landowner went outside his house. He left his house and went back to the marketplace. You should translate it here as you did there.

about the sixth hour and the ninth hour: These two phrases describe specific hours after sunrise (like “the third hour” in 20:3a). So, the sixth hour corresponds to 12 o’clock noon, and the ninth hour corresponds to 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:

at twelve o’clock and again at three o’clock (Good News Translation)
-or-
about noon and 3 p.m. (God’s Word)
-or-
around midday and again in the middle of the afternoon

20:5c

did the same thing: The words did the same means that the master did the same action each time. Each time that he went out, he found more workers waiting around in the marketplace. And each time he sent them also into his vineyard to work.

In some languages, it will be more natural to make some of this information explicit. For example:

Each time, he found more workers standing around in the market. And each time, he told them to go and work in his vineyard.
-or-
each time he made the same agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 20:5b–c

In some languages, it will be natural to have the time phrases at the beginning of the sentence. In other languages, these phrases will be more natural at the end. For example:

About noon and about three o’clock he went out again and did the same thing.

-or-

He went out again and did the same thing at noon and at three o’clock.

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:34

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:36

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:5

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society