SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 43

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.

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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.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:3

22:3a

sent his servants: The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as servants can also be translated “slaves.” The workers in a king’s household were not free laborers who worked for wages. They were people who were owned by him.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

sent his slaves (NET Bible)

22:3b

to call those who were invited: In Greek, this clause is more literally “to call the ones who had been called.” This clause indicates that the king had previously called/invited people to come to the wedding at a later date. Then, when everything was ready, the king sent his slaves to tell these people that the wedding was ready and that they should come.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

to tell the invited guests to come (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to let the people whom he had invited know that it was time to come

to the wedding feast: As mentioned above in 22:2b, the Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as wedding feast is more literally “wedding.” An important part of a Jewish wedding was eating and feasting. But the Greek term does not specifically refer to the food or meals at a wedding.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

to the wedding

22:3c

but: There is a contrast between the king’s invitation to come (in 22:3b) and the people’s refusing to come (in 22:3c). Most English versions make this contrast explicit with the conjunction “but.”

they would not come: In Greek, this clause is more literally “they did not want to come.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they did not want to come (GNB)
-or-
they were not willing to go

-or-

they refused to come (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:35

22:35a

And one of them, a lawyer:
The phrase one of them means that this person was a member of the Pharisees. The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates a lawyer refers to someone who studied and taught the law. It is not someone who went to court for a lawsuit. It refers to the same sort of person as the word “scribe” in 21:15a. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and one of them, a teacher of the Law (Good News Translation)
-or-
One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
One Pharisee was an expert in the law of Moses

22:35b

asked him a question to test him: The Greek verb that the English Standard Version translates as to test means means “to try to trick/trap.” (This verb is also in 22:18b.)

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

tried to trap him with a question (Good News Translation)
-or-
tried to trick him by asking

-or-

He wanted to see if Jesus could answer his question well or if he would say something wrong. He asked him (Translation for Translators)

Jewish teachers did not agree which was the more important commandment. No matter how Jesus answered, some of them would be happy and other would be angry at him. It is probably in this sense that the lawyer tested Jesus.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 1:24

Paragraph 1:24–25

In this paragraph, the story of Mary and Joseph resumes. It explains what Joseph did after the dream he had in 1:20–21.

1:24b

he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: The clause as the angel of the Lord had commanded him means that Joseph did what the angel told him to do in 1:20c–21. He married Mary. Matthew states this clearly in 1:24c.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he did what the angel of the Lord told/ordered him to do
-or-
he did that which the angel of the Lord said he must do

1:24c

and embraced Mary as his wife: This clause refers to Joseph marrying Mary and beginning married life together.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Joseph took Mary as his wife (New Century Version)

-or-

he married Mary (Good News Translation)

A similar expression is in 1:20. You should translate these two passages in a similar way.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 3:8

3:8

In this verse John told the Pharisees and Sadducees what they should do in response to his rebuke in 3:7c. They should repent and show their repentance by thinking and acting the way God wanted them to.

then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then connects this verse to 3:7. Many English versions do not translate this conjunction here.

Here are some other ways to translate this connection:

Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance (NET Bible)
-or-

⌊In order to escape judgment,⌋ you should…
-or-

⌊If you want to avoid God’s punishment,⌋ you must…

Connect these two verses in a way that is natural in your language.

Produce fruit…in keeping with repentance: The phrase Produce fruit is a metaphor. A person’s good moral conduct is compared to fruit. They are similar in that both are the result and evidence of something. Fruit is the result and evidence of the type of tree it came from. A holy life is the result and evidence of someone who has truly repented.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Translate it literally. For example:

Produce fruit that shows that you have repented.
-or-
Repent and produce the fruit that shows it.

• Translate it as a simile and make the point of comparison explicit. For example:

⌊Just as trees⌋ bear/produce fruit ⌊and show what kind of trees they are⌋, ⌊so you must do the things/acts⌋ that show that you have really repented.

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

Behave in a way that shows that you have repented.
-or-
Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. (New Living Translation (1996))

in keeping with: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in keeping with is literally “worthy of.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

that will show (Good News Translation)
-or-
that proves (NET Bible)
-or-
that accompanies
-or-
that corresponds to
-or-
that goes together with

repentance: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as repentance means “a change of a person’s mind, heart, or will.” In the Bible it refers specifically to a change of mind and heart about sin and about God. The person who repents is sorry for his past sins. John was saying that these people should quit sinning and instead obey God.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

you have left/abandoned your sins
-or-
you have really turned from your sins and turned to God (New Living Translation (1996))

-or-

you really have changed your hearts and lives (New Century Version)

The verb form of this word occurs in 3:2a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 4:23

Section 4:23–25

Jesus taught, preached, and healed many people

Before this time, not many people knew about Jesus. But soon the news of his teaching and healing spread throughout Galilee and then into neighboring regions and beyond as well. Some of these regions were Jewish and some were non-Jewish.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The ministry of Jesus in Galilee
-or-
Jesus did God’s work and the news of him spread ⌊beyond Galilee⌋

There is a parallel passage for this section in Luke 6:17–19.

Paragraph 4:23–25

This paragraph tells where Jesus began his ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing, and how the people responded it.

The events in this paragraph probably happened soon after Jesus called his first disciples. In some languages, it may be natural to begin this paragraph with a time word. For example:

Then

4:23a

Jesus went throughout Galilee: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus went throughout Galilee means that Jesus went from village to village and from town to town in the district of Galilee. The Greek tense of the verb indicates continuous or repeated activity. Jesus did this over a long period of time, perhaps a few months.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus went everywhere in Galilee (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus was going throughout all Galilee (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee (New Living Translation (2004))

4:23b

teaching: In this context, the verb teaching probably indicates that Jesus taught from the Scriptures. He made the meaning clear.

in their synagogues: The word synagogues refers to buildings where Jews gathered to pray, read Scripture, teach their beliefs, and worship God. The Jews also gathered in synagogues for cultural activities. There was only one temple, but each Jewish community had a synagogue.

The word their refers to Jews in those locations.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

prayer-houses of the Jews
-or-
meeting-places of the Jews
-or-
buildings for worship
-or-
houses for gathering together

The term you use for synagogue should be different from the term you use for “temple.” The temple was the main Jewish house of worship, which was located in the city of Jerusalem.

If the word synagogue is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may want to include a word or phrase to explain the meaning. For example:

sinagog house/building

See synagogue in the Glossary for more information.

4:23c

preaching: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as preaching also occurs in 4:17. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

announcing (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
proclaiming (English Standard Version)
-or-
telling people

the gospel of the kingdom: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gospel is sometimes translated as “good news” (New International Version). In the New Testament, this Greek word specifically means “the good news that God has made a way to save sinful people through Jesus.”

In Matthew, the word kingdom is usually referred to by the fuller expression “kingdom of heaven.” It refers to God’s rule in a person’s life.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the good message about ⌊God’s⌋ kingdom
-or-
the good news concerning ⌊God’s⌋ kingship/ruling
-or-
the good news about submitting to ⌊God’s⌋ rule/authority

You may want to look at kingdom of heaven in the Glossary for more information.

4:23d

healing every disease and sickness: The words disease and sickness are a doublet. This means that these words have almost the same meaning. Together, these words refer to every type of illness and physical problem that people can have.

Different cultures categorize diseases and physical problems in different ways. As you translate this clause, remember that Jesus healed people of leprosy, fever, blindness, demon-possession, and various handicaps. You should find terms that cover all (or most) of these.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Use two terms. For example:

healing all the people’s diseases and sicknesses (New Century Version)
-or-
healing every disease and handicap
-or-
curing every illness and injury

• Use more than two terms. For example:

he cured people who were sick, handicapped, and injured
-or-
he healed people who had every type of disease, illness, disability, and other sickness

• Use one term. For example:

healing every kind of sickness

-or-

curing everyone who was not feeling well

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:35

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 1:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 3:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 4:23

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