SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:29

12:29

Verse 12:29 is a parable. In this parable, the “strong man” represents Satan. The strong man’s “house” represents Satan’s kingdom. “His possessions” represent people whom Satan controls. Jesus is the one who is stronger than Satan. He binds Satan and takes those people out of Satan’s kingdom.

Jesus told this parable to show people that he was working against Satan. Satan was not the one who was giving him power to cast out evil spirits.

In some languages, it may be good to explain the meaning of this parable in a footnote. A sample footnote is:

In this parable, Satan is the strong man. The strong man’s house is Satan’s kingdom. The possessions of the strong man are those people whom Satan controls. Jesus is the one who breaks into Satan’s kingdom and takes away or frees the people whom he controls.

12:29a–c

Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How can anyone break into a strong man’s house and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a rhetorical question followed by a statement. For example:

How can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property. (God’s Word)

• As a statement. For example:

No one can break into a strong man’s house and take away his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man…. (Good News Translation)
-or-
If anyone wants to enter a strong person’s house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house. (New Century Version)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

12:29a

Or again: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Or again indicates that this parable is another way of looking at the point of 12:28. That point is that Jesus is not working with Satan. He is working against Satan.

You may want to use a conjunction that shows that 12:29 is connected in thought with 12:28. Here are some examples:

Similarly
-or-
Or ⌊to say it another way,⌋

how can anyone enter a strong man’s house: The phrase strong man’s house refers to the house of a man who is physically strong. In this parable, the strong man represents Satan. The strong man’s house represents Satan’s kingdom. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊Satan can be compared to⌋ a strong person. No one can enter his house…

This parable assumes that the strong man is home and guarding his possessions. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this more explicit. For example:

enter a strong man’s house ⌊when he is home⌋

enter: In some languages, it may be better to use a stronger word or phrase than the word enter. For example:

break into (Good News Translation)
-or-
break and enter

12:29b

steal: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as steal means “forcefully take away” or “rob.” In this context, it refers to taking the strong man’s possessions against his will.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

plunder (English Standard Version)
-or-
rob (New Living Translation (1996))

In some languages, a verb like steal will hinder people from understanding that the point of the parable is that Jesus is stronger than Satan. The point is not that Jesus is bad like a robber and steals things. So in some languages, it may be better to use a different type of verb here. For example:

take away (Good News Translation)
-or-
carry away/off

his possessions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as possessions also means “property.” These things are the man’s belongings. They are the things he has in his house. In this parable, this word represents the people whom Satan owns or controls.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

his property (God’s Word)
-or-
his belongings (Good News Translation)
-or-
his possessions (New International Version)

12:29c

unless he first ties up the strong man: The phrase ties up means “binds.” In some languages, it may be necessary to include a previous action. For example:

if he does not first ⌊overpower⌋ the strong man and tie him up

General Comment on 12:29a–c

In some language, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses so that they are in chronological order. For example:

Or again, conly if someone first ties up a strong man acan he then enter the strong man’s house band carry off his possessions.

12:29d

Then he can plunder his house: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plunder is a stronger form of the same Greek verb in 12:29b. The same action is meant here as in 12:29b, but the manner of “thoroughly” is included here. You may use the same verb for “plunder” in 12:29b and here in 12:29d, but you may want to use an extra word to show the completeness of the action. For example:

Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. (NET Bible)
-or-
Then he can completely rob his house
-or-
Then he can take everything (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

Then he could seize all the strong man’s things

© 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 13:11

13:11a

He replied: In Greek, there is a word that occurs after this phrase. The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word. There are two ways to interpret this Greek word:

(1) It is a speech introducer and means that. It introduces Jesus’ answer. So most English versions do not translate this word. For example:

He replied, “The knowledge….” (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It is a conjunction and means because. It introduces the reason that Jesus spoke in parables. For example:

He replied, “Because the knowledge…” (NIV2011)

(NIV2011, New Jerusalem Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version)

Here are some issues to consider when deciding which interpretation to follow:

• The majority of English versions follow interpretation (1). And the quote in the parallel passage in Mark 4:11 begins without the conjunction “because.”

• The meaning of the verse does not change if you choose interpretation (2). It may even be more natural in some languages to start the quote with “⌊I use parables⌋ because….” Many commentators also follow this interpretation.

13:11b

The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you: Another way to translate this clause is: “The secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you to know.”

In some languages, secrets are not something that can be given. They are “revealed” or “told.” You should use the verb that is most natural in your language for telling a secret. In this context, it is God through Jesus who has revealed certain secrets to the disciples.

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

• Use a passive verb. For example:

You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (NET Bible)
-or-
You are permitted/allowed to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ has revealed/shown to you the secrets of the kingdom of heaven
-or-

⌊God⌋ has told you the secrets about the kingdom of heaven
-or-
I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you (Contemporary English Version)

Notice that in the active examples above, the phrase The knowledge of is not translated. When secrets are revealed, it is implied that the person now knows them. So it may not be necessary to translate the phrase The knowledge of.

the mysteries: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mysteries refers to truths that were previously hidden or unknown. They were previously a mystery to everyone. Now, God reveals these truths only to certain people.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

secret/hidden truths
-or-
mysteries (New Jerusalem Bible)

the kingdom of heaven: In the phrase the kingdom of heaven, the word heaven is a figure of speech called metonymy. In this figure of speech, heaven refers to God, but it refers to him indirectly by naming the place where he lives and rules. So the phrase the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.”

Here are some ways to translate heaven in this context:

• Make some information explicit. For example:

⌊the one/Lord who lives in⌋ heaven

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

God

This phrase also occurs in 3:2b, 5:3b, 10:7b, and 11:11c. Also see kingdom of heaven in the Glossary.

13:11c

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between two types of people: the ones who know the secrets, and the ones who do not know them. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

In Greek, this contrast is also emphasized by putting the two groups first in each clause. For example:

11b
to you it has been given

11c
to them it has not been given

If there is a way in your language to emphasize and contrast the two groups of people, you should consider doing it here.

not to them: Some words are implied from 13:11b but not repeated here. It may be more natural in your language to repeat some or all of the implied words. For example:

⌊these secrets have⌋ not ⌊been revealed⌋ to them

-or-

⌊he has⌋ not ⌊told/explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven⌋ to them

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:43

13:43a

Then the righteous: The phrase the righteous refers to the people who do what is right and good in God’s sight. It refers to believers. This same Greek word is translated as “righteous men” in 13:17b.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

everyone who has done right (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the good people (New Century Version)
-or-
the people who obey God’s laws

will shine like the sun: This phrase is a simile. In this simile, righteous people are compared to the sun. They are similar in that both will shine. This indicates that righteous people will share in Christ’s glory and honor.

This description of righteous people is similar to 17:2b. There Jesus was transfigured before his disciples and his face “shone like the sun.”

Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

• Keep the simile. For example:

⌊God will cause⌋ righteous people ⌊to⌋ shine/glow like the sun
-or-
righteous people will be bright like the sun
-or-
good people will be like the sun shining brightly

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

righteous people will receive glory/honor
-or-
God will honor righteous people

in the kingdom of their Father: This phrase refers to the same kingdom as in 13:41b and 13:38b. The kingdom of God the Father is the same kingdom as the kingdom of his son Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the kingdom of ⌊God⌋ their Father
-or-
the rule/chieftaincy of their Father ⌊who is God⌋

The kingdom of their Father is the place where the righteous will go. It contrasts with the fiery furnace where the law-breakers will go. In some languages, it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

But the righteous people ⌊will go to⌋ the kingdom of their Father. ⌊There they⌋ will shine like the sun.

their Father: This phrase refers to God the Father. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

⌊God⌋ their Father

13:43b

The saying in this verse also occurs in Matthew 11:15, 13:9, Mark 4:9, Mark 4:23, Luke 8:8, and Luke 14:35. You should translate all these passages in the same way.

He who has ears, let him hear: These words are a saying that Jesus used to command or urge the crowd to carefully think about the words that they had just heard.

Here are some other ways to translate this saying:

You people who can hear me, listen. (New Century Version)
-or-
Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

You who are listening, think about what you have just heard.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:17

14:17

We have here only: The Greek text is literally “We do not have (anything) here except.” The disciples knew that the little they had would not feed the crowd of thousands.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

we haven’t anything here…except (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
We have nothing here but (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
All we have here are

five loaves of bread and two fish: This is a meal for one person or at most two people.

loaves of bread: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as loaves of bread probably refers to flat breads. One person could eat three to five of these loaves at one meal. It was the common food for a meal.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

loaves ⌊of bread⌋

-or-

⌊small⌋ breads

fish: This was probably a kind of small fish that was already smoked or dried. If your language has a specific word for fish that is already cooked or dried or salted so that it is ready to eat, you should use it here. Otherwise, you should use a general term for fish. The kind of fish is not important.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:13

15:13

Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pulled up by its roots refers to pulling a plant, including its roots, out of the soil. When this is done, the plant cannot regrow. It is destroyed.

This sentence is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compared:

(a) God to a farmer

(b) the Pharisees to plants/weeds that the farmer had not planted and that were not part of his garden/farm

A farmer uproots plants/weeds that he has not planted. These plants do not belong in his garden/farm. In the same way, God will judge and destroy all who do not belong in his kingdom.

The Jews considered their nation to be a plant that God had planted (as in Isaiah 60:21). Jesus used this metaphor to show that many of the Pharisees were not truly God’s people.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor: For example:

My Father in heaven will uproot any plant that he has not planted.

If people in your area will not clearly understand the meaning of the metaphor, you may want to include a footnote to explain it. A sample footnote is:

Jesus used this metaphor to explain that God will punish many Pharisees. As a farmer uproots bad plants that he has not planted, God will destroy people who do not truly belong to him.

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

As a farmer uproots plants that he did not plant, my heavenly Father will punish/destroy anyone who does not belong to him.
-or-
A farmer uproots plants that he did not plant. In the same way, my heavenly Father will punish/destroy anyone who does not belong to him.

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

My heavenly Father will destroy any person who does not belong to him.

You may then want to include the metaphor in a footnote. For example:

In Greek, this is literally: My heavenly Father will uproot any plant that he has not planted.

will be pulled up by its roots: The clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

will be uprooted (NET Bible)

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊he/God⌋ will uproot

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:6

16:6

Watch out…Beware: The two verbs Watch out and Beware are a doublet. This means that these two verbs have almost the same meaning. Jesus used these two verbs with a similar meaning to emphasize the warning that he was giving his disciples. He warned them to pay attention to a possible danger.

In some languages, it is natural to emphasize a warning using two verbs. In other languages it may not be natural to use two verbs like this. If that is true in your language, you may need to emphasize the warning in another way. (See an example below.)

Here are some other ways to translate these verbs:

Be careful! Watch out (God’s Word)
-or-
Look out! Beware of
-or-
Be very careful of

the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leaven refers to a substance that is also called “yeast.” A person mixes leaven/yeast with water and flour. Then it spreads throughout the flour and makes the dough expand/rise. The dough is then baked in an oven and becomes bread.

Here Jesus used the word leaven as a metaphor to refer to the bad influences of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But at first the disciples misunderstood him. They thought that he was talking about real leaven/yeast. So you should translate leaven here in a normal, non-figurative way.

Here are some other ways to translate leaven/yeast:

• Use an expression that describes the leaven. For example:

what spreads to make bread swell/rise
-or-
bread-expanding substance

• Use a term from the national language and a descriptive phrase. For example:

yeast that spreads to make bread swell

• Borrow a word and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example of a possible footnote:

Yeast is something that spreads in flour dough and causes it to swell/rise so that after the dough is baked it is soft to eat.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:10

17:10a

The disciples asked Him: Here the phrase The disciples refers to the same three disciples (Peter, James and John) who were on the mountain with Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Then the disciples asked Jesus (Good News Translation)
-or-
And his disciples asked him (King James Version)

17:10b–c

Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?: This is a real question. It is not a rebuke. The disciples asked this question because they were confused. They knew that Jesus was the Christ, and they had just seen Elijah on the mountain. This reminded them about the prophecy that Elijah would come back to preach before the Christ came. So here the disciples asked Jesus why they had not seen the public ministry of Elijah before he, Jesus, came.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
So why do the scribes say that it is necessary that Elijah return ⌊to the earth⌋ before the Christ comes?

17:10b

the scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the law of Moses. These men were called scribes because their original work was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, this was no longer their main task.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
teachers of the law (New International Version)
-or-
experts in the law

Translate this term in the same way as you did in 15:1a and 16:21c.

17:10c

Elijah must come first: These words mean that the prophet Elijah must return to earth before the Messiah comes.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

Elijah must come before the Messiah does (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Elijah must return before the Messiah comes (New Living Translation (2004))

must: In Greek, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as must is often used to indicate something that is required because it is God’s will. The Scripture said that Elijah would come first. Therefore, it was necessary for him to come.

Here are some other ways to translate this whole clause:

it is necessary for Elijah to come first

-or-

it is required that Elijah come before ⌊the Messiah⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:15

Correct a brother who sins

In this section, Jesus told his disciples what to do when a fellow believer sins against one of them. Jesus gave them some steps to follow to deal with the problem in a gentle and loving manner. The main goal of these steps is to restore the relationship between two believers.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

When a Person Sins Against You (New Century Version)
-or-
What to do if a fellow believer sins against you

Paragraph 18:15–17

18:15a

If your brother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brother refers to any fellow believer.

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase your brother:

your Christian brother
-or-
your fellow believer (New Century Version)

If the people in your area might think that this phrase would not include females, you could translate it as:

your Christian brother or sister

your: The pronouns “your” and “you” are singular throughout 18:15–17.

sins against you: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Many Greek manuscripts have the phrase sins against you. For example:

sins against you (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some important, early Greek manuscripts have only the word sins. They do not have the added phrase against you here. For example:

sins (NET Bible)

(NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). Some important, early Greek manuscripts do not include these words. But the phrase “just between you and him alone” in 18:15b is one reason to include them.

You may want to include a footnote to explain that some translations omit the phrase against you. For example:

Some important, early Greek manuscripts do not have the words “against you.” Many translations do not include them either.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

wrongs you (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
does something wrong/bad to you
-or-
does evil against you

18:15b

go: This verb is a command. It includes the idea of “to him.” For example:

go to him (Good News Translation)

In other words, you should go and find the person who sinned against you.

confront him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as confront him also means “show, condemn, rebuke, or reprove him.” It means “describe to him what he has done wrong and tell him you disagree with what he has done.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

tell him what he has done wrong
-or-
show him his fault (NET Bible)

privately: This phrase indicates that you should confront your brother in private.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in private (New Century Version)
-or-
But do it privately, just between yourselves. (Good News Translation)
-or-
when the two of you are alone (NET Bible)

18:15c

If he listens to you: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as listens is the general word that means “hear.” In this context, it indicates that the brother agrees with you and responds appropriately. He confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If he hears you ⌊and repents⌋
-or-
If he listens to you ⌊and is sorry/regretful⌋
-or-
If the other person listens and confesses it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
If he accepts your words
-or-
If he agrees with you

you have won your brother over: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as won…over means “gotten back” or “won” your brother. It implies that the relationship is restored and the two people have reconciled.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you have won your brother back (Good News Translation)
-or-
you have restored that brother to you
-or-
you have helped that person to be your brother or sister again (New Century Version)

-or-

you and your brother are reconciled again

Search

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 12:29

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:43

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:15

Search

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

American Bible Society