SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 10:21

Paragraph 10:21–23

10:21a

Brother will betray brother to death: This clause indicates that siblings will betray one another. In some languages, it will be more natural to use the plural “Brothers” here.

The word Brother can refer to any older or younger brother. If your language has specific words for older brother and younger brother, you can translate Brother and brother in one of the following ways:

An older brother will deliver over his younger brother
-or-
A younger brother will deliver over his older brother
-or-

⌊Some⌋ people will deliver over their younger brothers and older brothers

will betray…to death: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as betray…to is the same Greek word that occurs in 10:19a. Someone who does not believe in Jesus will hand over his believing brother to people who will kill him.

Here are some other ways to translate this entire clause:

People will hand over their own brothers to be put to death (Good News Translation)
-or-
A brother will give his brother ⌊who believes in me⌋ ⌊to those who will put him⌋ to death
-or-
People will betray their siblings ⌊who believe in me⌋ to those who will kill them

10:21b

and a father his child: Some words from the previous clause are implied but not repeated here. You may need to repeat some of those words here. Or you may need to use words that indicate the same action as the previous clause. For example:

and a father ⌊will hand over his⌋ child ⌊to be put to death⌋
-or-
and fathers ⌊will give⌋ their children ⌊to those who will kill them⌋
-or-
and men ⌊will betray⌋ their own children

In this context, the father is not a believer, and the child is a believer. In some languages, it may be necessary to include some of this implied information. For example:

a father ⌊who does not believe⌋ ⌊will hand over⌋ his child ⌊who believes⌋ ⌊to be put to death⌋

10:21c

children will rise against their parents: The verb rise against means “oppose or fight against people in power.”

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

oppose
-or-
turn against (Good News Translation)
-or-
rebel against (New International Version)

In this context, the children are older children, not infants. If the word children in your language only indicates young children, you may have to use another word. For example:

people will rebel against their parents

These children are not believers, and the parents are believers. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

children will oppose their parents ⌊who believe in me⌋
-or-

⌊non-believing⌋ people will rebel against their ⌊believing⌋ parents

have them put to death: This phrase indicates that children will give their parents to authorities who will judge them guilty and cause them to be killed.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

cause them to be killed (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

and have them killed (Contemporary English Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 11:11

11:11

Verse 11:11 indicates that John was the boundary between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the kingdom. He was the last Old Testament prophet. There was no one greater than John. But in the period of the kingdom, even the least person is greater than the greatest person in the period of the law.

11:11a

In 11:10 Jesus quoted a verse from the Old Testament. But 11:11 is Jesus’ own words. If this is not clear from the grammar of your language, you may want to add something to make it clear. For example:

⌊Jesus said,⌋
-or-

⌊Jesus continued speaking:⌋

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some other ways to introduce this:

I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

This clause also occurs in 10:42. You should translate it here as you did there.

11:11b

among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist: The clause those born of women is a figurative way to refer to human beings (as opposed to spirit beings). The verb has risen also means “has lived.” It does not refer to rising from sleep or from the dead.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer (God’s Word)
-or-
John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived (Good News Translation)
-or-
John the Baptist is the most important human being who has ever lived.

no one greater than John the Baptist: This phrase means that no human being had a more important role than John. John was the one whom God chose to prepare people for the Messiah’s coming.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

John…is the most important person
-or-
of all the people who have ever lived, John…has the greatest position/privilege

11:11c

Yet: Verse 11:11c seems to conflict with 11:11b, but it is also true. The two parts are a paradox.

Here are some other ways to introduce this part of the paradox:

But (Good News Translation)
-or-
However

even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he: This sentence compares a person in the time of the kingdom of God with John (who lived at the end of the time of the law). It indicates that even a person who has the lowest status in the kingdom of God is greater than John. Even insignificant people in the kingdom are more important than the most important people in the time of the Old Testament law. This implies that the new way that Jesus was establishing (the kingdom) is better than the old way (the law).

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

in the kingdom of heaven, even the lowest person is greater/higher than John
-or-
the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John (God’s Word)
-or-
the person of the lowest rank/status in the kingdom of God is great/important compared with John

even the least: This phrase refers to the person who has the lowest status, rank, or position in the kingdom of God.

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. The Jews considered God’s name to be so holy that they hesitated to say it. So instead of pronouncing God’s name directly, they often used the name of the place where he lives and rules. Because Matthew was writing primarily to Jews, he often used the word heaven to refer to God.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.” The phrase the kingdom of heaven only occurs in the book of Matthew. The phrase “the kingdom of God” is found in all other places in the New Testament, and it even occurs five times in Matthew.

Here are some other 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 and 10:7b. Also see kingdom of heaven in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:13

12:13a–b

Stretch out your hand: With this clause, Jesus commanded the man to extend his arm so that his hand was out in front of him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Extend your hand
-or-
Reach out your hand
-or-
Hold out your hand (Contemporary English Version)

12:13c

restored: This word means “brought back to the original good condition.” The man’s hand became completely healthy again.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

healed/cured
-or-
well again (New Century Version)
-or-
normal again (God’s Word)

just like the other: The Greek has a word before this phrase that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated because its meaning is similar to “restored.” Some other English translations translate the word, which means “well” or “healthy.” For example:

healthy like the other (English Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:45

12:45a

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself: This clause means that the unclean spirit goes away, finds seven other unclean spirits, and brings them back to his house. In some languages, it may be necessary to divide this long clause into several sentences. For example:

it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Then he goes away ⌊and invites⌋ seven other unclean/evil spirits. These spirits are even worse than he is. He brings them with him

seven other spirits: These spirits are unclean/evil spirits like the first one. But they are even more evil.

12:45b

they go in and dwell there: The pronoun they refers to the unclean spirit plus the seven other evil spirits. These eight evil spirits are pictured as entering and living in the person like people enter and live in a house.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor of the house. For example:

they enter ⌊that house⌋ and live there

• Use terms that refer directly to evil spirits possessing a person. For example:

they all enter the person and live there (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they possess the person

• Use general terms that could refer to either a house or a person. For example:

they go in and live there (New Century Version)

12:45c

the final plight of that man is worse than the first: The word plight refers to the man’s “state of being” or his “life.” The eight demons will make this man’s life much worse than when the one demon was controlling his life.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the person has even more trouble than before (New Century Version)
-or-
the life of that person is worse than before
-or-
the sufferings/troubles of that person will surpass those of before

12:45d

So will it be with this wicked generation: This clause is the conclusion or application of what Jesus said in 12:43–44. In this clause, Jesus compared the people of this evil generation to the person who had the evil spirit. He said that the end of the lives of the people of this generation will be worse than the beginning of their lives.

The people of this evil generation had seen Jesus cast out an evil spirit. If they did not replace the evil in their lives with the Holy Spirit, they would suffer.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It is the same way with the evil people who live today. (New Century Version)
-or-
That is like what will happen to the evil people who live today.
-or-

⌊The lives of the people of⌋ this evil generation will be like ⌊the life of⌋ the person with a demon. ⌊The end will be worse than the beginning.⌋

this wicked generation: This phrase refers to the people who lived at the same time as Jesus. Many of them were evil/bad. A similar phrase occurs in 12:39a.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

evil people who live today

-or-

bad people who are alive now

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:27

Paragraph 13:27–30

13:27a

servants: This word refers to the people who worked for the owner of the land.

Here is another way to translate this word:

workers

to him: The to him refers to the man introduced in 13:24c. This man was head of the household and probably owned the house and land.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the head of the house
-or-
the man who owned the field

13:27b

Sir: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sir is the same word translated “Lord” when referring to God. This word is a term of respect and indicates that the person spoken to is greater in status.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Master (English Standard Version)
-or-
Boss/Chief/Father

didn’t you sow good seed in your field?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses surprise and emphasizes that they knew that he had planted good seeds. They were surprised that there were weeds in the field, because he had sown good seed.

Here are some ways to translate this surprise and emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? (Revised English Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

You planted good seed in your field. (New Century Version)

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

13:27c

Where then did the weeds come from?: This is a real question. There were many more weeds than normal, and the servants did not know where the extra weeds came from.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

How then does it have weeds? (English Standard Version)
-or-
Then how does your field have ⌊all these⌋ weeds?

-or-

Then in what way did your field become ⌊so full of⌋ weeds?

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:1

Section 14:1–12

The story about how John the Baptist died

In this section, Matthew wrote how John the Baptist was killed. This section can be difficult to translate because the events are not in chronological order.

Verses 1–2 refer to events that happened after John the Baptist died. But verses 3–12 refer back to events that had happened before John the Baptist died, and they include the story of his death. You will need to clearly indicate the change in time at 14:3.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Death of John the Baptist (Good News Translation)
-or-
John the Baptist Beheaded (New American Standard Bible)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 6:14–29 and Luke 9:7–9.

Paragraph 14:1–2

14:1

At that time: This phrase refers to the time of the events in chapter 13. It was the time when Jesus was teaching people and doing miracles. It was the time when people were hearing about the things Jesus was saying and doing.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

In those days
-or-
During that time

Herod: Herod was the government leader of the Jewish district of Galilee. His full name was Herod Antipas. He was one of the sons of King Herod the Great who was ruler when Jesus was born (in 2:1). Both the father and the son had the name Herod.

In some languages, it may be necessary to distinguish this Herod from the Herod in chapter 2. If that is true in your language, you can:

• Include his full name in the text. For example:

Herod ⌊Antipas⌋

• Explain it in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

This refers to Herod Antipas, one of the sons of King Herod the Great (2:1).

the tetrarch: This word is the title of a government leader who ruled one fourth of a country. This Herod ruled over one fourth of the land that his father, King Herod the Great, had ruled over.

A tetrarch is a higher title than governor, but it is lower than king. In spite of that, Herod is called the king in 14:9a.

Here are some other ways to translate this title:

the ruler of Galilee (Good News Translation)
-or-
the king
-or-
the ruler/chief
-or-
the governing one

heard the reports about Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reports refers to the news/stories that people were telling about Jesus and his miracles.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

heard about the fame of Jesus (English Standard Version)
-or-
heard the news about Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
heard about Jesus (Good News Translation)

-or-

heard news of the ⌊deeds and words⌋ of Jesus

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:33

14:33a

those who were in the boat: This phrase refers to the disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The men in the boat (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the disciples in the boat

worshiped Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worshiped means “prostrate oneself before.” This word refers to kneeling and putting one’s face to the ground with arms outstretched. Common people did this to people of great authority in order to show them great honor and submission.

This same word occurs in 2:11c. There the magi worshiped the infant Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

got on their knees before him
-or-
bowed down in front of Jesus (God’s Word)

14:33b

Truly:

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

In truth
-or-
You really/certainly are…
-or-
Without a doubt

the Son of God: The phrase the Son of God is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.

See how you translated this phrase at 4:3b. For further information, see the note on “My…Son” at 3:17b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:29

Section 15:29–31

Jesus healed many people

In this short section, Jesus healed many people with different kinds of physical problems.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus healed many kinds of illnesses
-or-
Jesus made many people well

Paragraph 15:29–31

15:29a–b

Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee: Jesus’ trip probably had three parts:

(a) He left the region of Tyre and Sidon

(b) He traveled several days and came to the Sea of Galilee

(c) He walked part of the way around the Sea of Galilee. He stopped when he arrived at the base of a mountain that was beside the sea.

The disciples went with Jesus, but they are not mentioned because the focus is on Jesus. In some languages, it may be more natural to mention the disciples.

Also, part (b) of the trip is left implied in the Berean Standard Bible and other English versions. In some languages, it may be more natural to make this part more explicit. For example:

Then Jesus left there ⌊and traveled to⌋ the Sea of Galilee and walked beside it
-or-
Jesus ⌊and the disciples⌋ left ⌊the region of Tyre and Sidon⌋ ⌊and went/returned to⌋ the Sea of Galilee and walked ⌊part way⌋ around it

15:29a

Moving on from there: This phrase means that Jesus and his disciples left the area of Tyre and Sidon.

Before Jesus had gone to the district of Tyre and Sidon (in 15:21b), he was in Gennesaret. Gennesaret is on the northwest shore of Lake Galilee. So here in this verse, when Jesus left Tyre and Sidon, he “returned” to the area around Lake Galilee. In some languages, it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Jesus left that area and returned to Lake Galilee

15:29b

the Sea of Galilee: Here, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sea refers to a large freshwater lake. This lake is 23 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide (14 miles long and 6 miles wide).

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Lake Galilee (Good News Translation)

Use the same expression for Sea as you did in 4:13b and 13:1b.

15:29c

He went up on a mountain: The word mountain refers to a hill or a mountain about 500 meters high. In some languages, it is more natural to say “climbed” a mountain. For example:

He climbed a hill (Good News Translation)

The phrase went up on a mountain also occurs in 14:23b. As is mentioned there, this phrase indicates that Jesus went at least part way up the side of a mountain. It does not say if he went to the top of the mountain. For example:

Then he went up on a mountainside (New International Version)

and sat down: The Greek tense indicates that Jesus sat down and stayed sitting for some time. While he sat there, news of his arrival spread and the crowds brought their sick people (15:30). If it is natural in your language, you may want to indicate that he was sitting for some time. For example:

was sitting (New American Standard Bible)

-or-

sat down. While he was sitting there

The Greek does not indicate why Jesus sat down. Many times, the words sat down indicate that Jesus was preparing to teach. However, here, Matthew only says that he healed people. Perhaps Jesus just sat down to rest. Here, you should not say why he sat down.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 10:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 11:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:45

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:33

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:29

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