SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 59

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 11:18

11:18a

For: In verses 11:18–19, Jesus explained his comparison in 11:16–17. The generation of people in Jesus’ time were like children because they did not want to follow John or Jesus. In Greek, this explanation is introduced with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Here are some other ways to introduce this explanation:

⌊They can be compared to them⌋ because
-or-

⌊They are just like those children⌋ because
-or-
In the same way

John came: Here the word came is used in a general way to describe the time when John was preaching in the wilderness. It introduces the way John usually lived. It does not indicate that John “came” to a particular place.

In some languages, a literal translation may imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this:

John had the custom of
-or-

⌊during the ministry⌋ of John
-or-
John came ⌊and was doing God’s work⌋

neither eating: There are two ways to interpret the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as neither eating:

(1) John did not eat normal, good food. According to 3:4c, he ate locusts and wild honey. Furthermore, he did not go to feasts and parties where people spent a lot of time eating fancy food. Pleasures and comforts like food were not important to him. For example:

did not eat…like other people (New Century Version)

(Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) John did not eat food very often. This means that he frequently fasted. For example:

he fasted (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Living Translation (1996))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Many Jews fasted, so it is unlikely that they would have thought that John “had a demon” (11:18b) because he fasted.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

did not feast
-or-
did not eat good food
-or-
did not eat well
-or-
didn’t spend his time eating (New Living Translation (2004))

nor drinking: The word drinking refers to “drinking wine.” (See Luke 7:33 where the word “wine” is explicit in the text.) For example:

didn’t drink wine (New Living Translation (1996))

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a general word for alcoholic beverages. For example:

did not drink alcohol

• Use a common alcoholic beverage that is used in a general sense in your area. For example:

not drink millet beer
-or-
not drink palm wine
-or-
not drink something like palm wine

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

not drink fermented grape juice

The Jews allowed drinking wine, but drinking too much and getting drunk was considered wrong. John never drank any wine, as Luke 1:15 explains. This was unusual for a Jew.

11:18b

and: Verse 11:18b is a result of the people seeing John’s way of life (in 11:18a). The people rejected John’s message and so made wrong statements about him.

Here are some other ways to begin this part of the verse:

So (New Century Version)
-or-
and as a result

they say, ‘He has a demon!’: This clause means that the people were saying that John was possessed by a demon.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

He’s possessed by a demon. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
That man has a demon in him! (Contemporary English Version)

This clause shows that the people rejected John. The saying ‘He has a demon’ is a lie. If people in your area will think that ‘He has a demon’ is true about John, you may want to make the text more clear. For example:

they ⌊rejected John⌋ saying, ‘He has a demon’

-or-

they ⌊falsely⌋ said, ‘He has a demon’

demon: Another way to translate this word is:

evil spirit

For more help in translating the word demon, see the note under 7:22c.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:20

12:20a

A bruised reed He will not break: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, a person who is hurt in some way or who is spiritually weak is compared to A bruised reed. (See the explanation of A bruised reed below). Reeds were very common, and normally, people would throw away such a reed. But Jesus is compared to a person that will not break/bend the reed. This means that he will be gentle with such a person and help him. He will not hurt or damage him.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

He will not break off a bent reed (Good News Translation)
-or-
He will not break a crushed blade of grass (New Century Version)
-or-
He will not destroy a damaged reed

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

⌊Those who are weak like⌋ a bruised reed, he will not harm
-or-

⌊Anyone who is hurt like⌋ a bruised reed, he will help him

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

He will not crush those who are weak (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
He will be gentle with those who are weak

bruised reed: Reeds are tall grasses that have long, hollow stems which can be easily crushed or broken. A bruised reed would be one that is damaged and almost broken off.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

bent/damaged reed
-or-
partially cut/broken piece of grass

12:20b

a smoldering wick He will not extinguish: This is a metaphor. The meaning of this metaphor is similar to the meaning of the metaphor in 12:20a. In this metaphor, a person who is hurt in some way or who is spiritually weak is compared to the wick of a lamp. This wick is smoking, but not burning with a bright flame. Normally, people would cut off such a wick and throw it away. But Jesus is compared to a person who will not quench the flame. This means that he will be gentle with such a person and help him. He will not hurt him.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

He will not even put out a smoking wick (God’s Word)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

⌊A person who has many problems is like⌋ a smoldering wick. He will not extinguish it/him.
-or-

⌊Anyone who is hurt like⌋ a smoldering wick, he will not smother/harm him

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

He will be gentle with anyone who is in pain.
-or-
He will encourage the person who has no hope.

a smoldering wick: A wick is the part of a lamp which burns. The phrase a smoldering wick refers to a wick which is burning red and smoking but without a flame.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

a smoking wick (God’s Word)
-or-
a weak flame (New Century Version)

not extinguish: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as extinguish refers to putting out a fire/flame.

Here is another way to translate this verb:

quench (English Standard Version)

12:20c

till: The servant will continue to be gentle (12:18d–20b) till he leads justice to victory. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this explicit. For example:

⌊He will be like that⌋ until
-or-

⌊He will continue to be gentle⌋ until

This does not imply that after he brings justice to victory, he will no longer be gentle.

He leads justice to victory: This is a figure of speech. In this figure of speech, justice is talked about as if it were a person who wins a victory. Justice wins a battle with evil. Jesus is the person who makes this victory possible.

In other words, one day Jesus will establish justice. He will fairly judge and punish people who are evil, and he will fairly judge and reward people who are righteous. In this sense, he will cause justice to be victorious over evil.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the figure of speech. For example:

he will cause justice to be victorious (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he makes justice win the victory (New Century Version)

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

he will make sure that justice is done (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he will be successful in causing everyone to receive what he deserves

-or-

until he causes all things to be done justly

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:2

13:2a–b

Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat: The reason that Jesus got into a boat was because a large group of people gathered around him. He got into a boat so he could better speak to all the people.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He got into a boat because a very large crowd had gathered
-or-
The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat (Good News Translation)

large crowds: The plural large crowds indicates that the size of the crowd was very large.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a very large crowd
-or-
very many people

He got into a boat: Jesus entered a boat so he could more easily speak to the large crowds. In this way more people could hear him. He did not get into a boat to flee from the crowd. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

he entered a boat ⌊to more easily speak to the crowd⌋

got: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as got is a specific verb for entering a boat. Here are some other ways to say this:

entered
-or-
descended into
-or-
stepped/climbed into

You should use whichever verb is appropriate in your language for entering a boat.

boat: This word probably refers to a wooden boat used for fishing. It may or may not have had sails. It was probably big enough for eight to twelve people to sit inside.

sat down: As in 13:1b, Jesus sat down to teach the people. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

sat down ⌊to teach⌋

13:2c

while: This conjunction indicates that the crowd stood on the shore at the same time as Jesus was in the boat.

Here is another way to translate this:

and

all the people: This phrase refers to everyone in the large crowds of 13:2a.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the entire crowd (God’s Word)
-or-
all the people (New International Version)

shore: This word describes the land close to the edge of a lake or sea. The people stood on the land next to the lake.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

beach (English Standard Version)
-or-
beside/near the water

-or-

at the edge of the water

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)

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.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 11:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:2

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

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