SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 70

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:14

14:14a

When He stepped ashore: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When He stepped ashore is more literally “Having gotten out.” This phrase refers to Jesus getting out of the boat. When the boat arrived at the far shore, Jesus stepped out of the boat onto land.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

So as he stepped ashore (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Jesus got out of the boat, and (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊When the boat arrived at the shore,⌋ Jesus got out

saw a large crowd: The phrase large crowd refers to many people.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he saw many people ⌊waiting for him⌋

14:14b

He had compassion on them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had compassion means “had pity” or “felt sympathy.” Jesus understood the people and their troubles, and he wanted to help them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he pitied them
-or-
He felt sorry for them (God’s Word)

You may have an idiomatic way to translate this term. In English, here are some examples of an idiomatic translation:

his heart was filled with pity for them (Good News Translation)
-or-
his heart went out to them (Revised English Bible)

healed their sick: The phrase their sick means the sick people among the crowd. These were probably sick people whom the healthy people brought along. Jesus miraculously healed these people. He healed them by God’s power. He did not heal them as a doctor heals people with medicine.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

healed those who were sick (New Century Version)

-or-

⌊miraculously⌋ healed the sick people ⌊whom they had brought⌋

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:10

Paragraph 15:10–11

15:10a

This verse begins a new part of the story. In some languages, it may be more natural to begin this paragraph with a time word. For example:

Then (Good News Translation)
-or-
After that

Jesus called the crowd to Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called also means “summon, ask (someone) to come.” Jesus invited the people who had been listening to gather around him. He did this because he wanted to talk to them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus called the crowd together (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Jesus told the crowd of people to gather around him

the crowd: When Jesus was talking with the Pharisees and scribes in 15:1–9, other people were standing around listening. Here Jesus began to speak directly to these people.

15:10b

Listen and understand: The expression Listen and understand indicates that:

(a) Jesus intended to say something important to the crowd.

(b) He strongly urged the people to listen carefully to what he said and understand it.

Listen means “concentrate on what I am saying.” The word understand emphasizes that everyone should think carefully about the meaning of what Jesus was about to say.

Use an expression in your language that people say when they want others to give careful attention and think about the meaning of what they hear. For example:

Pay attention and try to understand what I mean. (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

Listen and understand what I am saying (New Century Version)

This clause refers to the things that Jesus was about to say. Your translation should indicate that Jesus was referring to something that he was going to say. He is not talking about something that he had already said.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:3

16:3a

and in the morning: Some words from 16:2a are implied but not repeated here. In some languages it may be more natural to include some or all the implied words. For example:

And in the morning you say (God’s Word)

in the morning: Here the word morning refers to sunrise or soon after.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

at sunrise
-or-
when the sun comes up

16:3b

Today it will be stormy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stormy refers to a rainy and possibly windy day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It is going to rain (Good News Translation)
-or-
it will be a rainy day (New Century Version)

for the sky is red and overcast: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as overcast also means “gloomy” or “dark.” A threatening/gloomy sky is one where dark clouds fill the sky and block the sun.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

for the sky is red and threatening (English Standard Version)
-or-
the sky is red and gloomy (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
because the sky is red and dark
-or-
the sky is red and there are clouds

This clause is a basis/reason for the conclusion that “Today it will be stormy.” In some languages, it will be more natural to put this clause first. For example:

Because the sky is red and overcast, it will be stormy.
-or-
The sky is red and dark, ⌊so⌋ it will be stormy today.

In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

In the morning, you say that there will be rain because the sky is red and cloudy.
-or-
When morning ⌊comes⌋ and the sky is red and overcast, you say that there will be rain.

16:3c–d

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times: This sentence is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for understanding the signs in the sky, but not understanding the signs of that time.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a statement. For example:

You see these signs in the sky and know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that I am doing now, but you don’t know their meaning. (New Century Version)

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

You know what the signs in the sky mean. Why don’t you know what the signs of the times mean?

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

16:3c

You know how to interpret: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as interpret also means “evaluate” or “judge.” Jesus said that his listeners had the ability to look at these signs in the sky and judge/evaluate their meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You know how to judge correctly (NET Bible)
-or-
You are able to predict/tell if it will rain or not rain
-or-
You can tell what will happen

the appearance of the sky: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as the appearance of the sky is more literally “the face of the sky.” The ability to read and understand the signs of the weather is much like the ability to understand a person from their facial expressions.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the look of the sky (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
when you see the sky
-or-
by looking at the sky

16:3d

but not the signs of the times: These words mean that the Pharisees and Sadducees were not able to understand the events of that time. And they should have understood those events. The Pharisees and Sadducees were leaders of the nation of Israel. They were responsible for understanding what was going on around them and what God was doing. But they did not.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you are not able to understand
-or-
why are you are not able to know

the signs of the times: This phrase refers to events that would happen when God would begin to establish his kingdom in the last days. The Jews believed that at that time, God would redeem his people, defeat their enemies, and establish his righteous kingdom.

The Pharisees and Sadducees should have recognized that the miracles that Jesus did were some of these signs. These miracles showed that he was the Messiah sent from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the signs concerning these times (Good News Translation)
-or-
the events of these ⌊important⌋ times

-or-

the events/things that are happening now

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:7

17:7a

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then here functions to join the next event to the previous one. Here it does not show an obvious contrast. However, some English versions translate this word as “But.” Other versions do not translate it at all. For example:

But Jesus came and touched them. (English Standard Version)
-or-
Jesus came to them and touched them. (Good News Translation)

You should begin this verse in a way that is natural in your language.

Jesus came over: This story is told from the disciples’ perspective. So Jesus is described as coming from where he was to where the disciples were. But this event can also be told as if looking at the whole scene. For example:

Jesus went to them (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus approached them

touched them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as touched indicates that Jesus put his hand on each of them briefly. It is the same sort of thing Jesus did when healing someone of a sickness.

Here is another way to translate this:

put/placed his hand on them

17:7b

Get up: The phrase Get up refers to someone getting up from the ground and standing. Here this word is a command.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Rise (English Standard Version)
-or-
Stand up (New Jerusalem Bible)

Do not be afraid: In modern English, this Greek phrase is usually translated as in the Berean Standard Bible.

General Comment on 17:7b

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of “rising” and “not fearing.” For example:

Don’t be afraid! Stand up!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:12

18:12a–d

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?: Verse 18:12 contains two rhetorical questions. The first one is short, and the second one is long. The short one emphasizes that the second one is certainly true: A man will certainly leave all his sheep to search for one lost one.

Before you begin to translate this verse, carefully consider the best way in your language to translate these two rhetorical questions. There are many possibilities. Here are some possible ways:

• Divide the second (long) rhetorical question into shorter sentences. For example:

What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed? (God’s Word)

• Put the first rhetorical question in the middle of the second one. For example:

If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? (New Living Translation (1996))

• Put the first rhetorical question at the end of the verse. For example:

If a man has one hundred sheep, and one strays ⌊and gets lost⌋, will he not leave the ninety-nine others and go into the hills to search for the lost one? What do you think ⌊he will do⌋?

• Combine the two rhetorical questions. For example:

What do you think a man does who has one hundred sheep and one of them gets lost? He will leave the other ninety-nine grazing on the hillside and go and look for the lost sheep. (Good News Translation)

18:12a

What do you think?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to encourage the disciples to seriously think about what he was going to say. He also used this rhetorical question to emphasize that the next rhetorical question is certainly true.

Here are some other ways to translate this rhetorical question:

What do you think ⌊a man will do⌋…
-or-
What do you think/say ⌊about this⌋?

See also the examples above in the note on 18:12a–d for other ways to translate this rhetorical question.

Jesus used this same question in 17:25c.

you: Here, the pronoun you is plural, so he is speaking to the main group of disciples.

18:12b

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray: This is the first part of the long rhetorical question. (The actual question is in 18:12c–d.)

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

If a man has a hundred sheep, and ⌊if⌋ one of them has gone astray…
-or-
Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. (God’s Word)
-or-
There was a certain man who had one hundred sheep. If one of them strays…

a man: This phrase refers to any shepherd. Jesus did not have a particular person in mind. Instead he just told a little story to make his point.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a ⌊certain⌋ man
-or-
someone
-or-
a shepherd (New Living Translation (1996))

has a hundred sheep: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has means “owns” or “possesses.” It indicates that these sheep belong to the man. He is not just a watchman.

hundred: This is a large number, but the actual amount is probably not significant. Some languages do not regularly use numbers this big. If that is the case in your language, you may translate this as:

a lot of sheep

It is also possible to borrow the word for this number from a major language in your area. Or you can use the numeral “100.”

one of them goes astray: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as goes astray means “wanders.” Sheep are animals that wander away from the flock easily.

This verb also implies that the sheep was lost. It could not find its way back to the rest of the sheep.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

one of them strays (God’s Word)
-or-
one wanders away from the rest (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
one wanders away and is lost (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
one of the sheep gets lost (New Century Version)

18:12c

will he not leave: This part of the rhetorical question has a negative form (will he not leave), but it expects the answer, “Yes, of course.”

Here are some other ways to translate it:

• As a question that expects a “yes” answer. For example:

Will he not leave…?

• As a tag question. For example:

He will leave the ninety-nine, will he not?
-or-
He will leave the ninety-nine, true?

• As a statement of certainty. For example:

He will of course leave
-or-
Surely he will leave

leave: This verb means that the shepherd will temporarily abandon the other sheep. He will permit them to stay on their own while he goes in search of the lost one.

the ninety-nine: This is still a large number, but it is one less than the original number. If your language does not regularly use numbers this big, you might translate it as:

the rest of them

The idea that these are the rest of the “sheep” except for the one that wandered away is implicit in the number. If you need to, you may make that explicit. For example:

the ninety-nine others
-or-
the 99 other sheep

on the hills: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hills is singular. For example:

on the hillside (Revised English Bible)

In this little story, the sheep are out away from any village and in the mountains/hills. It was normal practice for a shepherd to take a flock of sheep to places like that to find grass for them to eat. Sometimes he would be gone with them for days, weeks, or even months at a time.

This phrase indicates “in a mountain area,” but not necessarily at the top. Translate it in a way that is appropriate to your storytelling style.

18:12d

go out to search for: In Greek, the two verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as go out to search for could also be translated as “go and seek.” That is, the shepherd would go to other places in the mountains where the lost sheep might be.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

go and look for (Good News Translation)
-or-
go out to search (New Living Translation (2004))

the one that is lost?: The phrase the one refers to the sheep that went astray.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the lost sheep (New Century Version`)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:9

19:9a

Now I tell you: The clause Now I tell you last occurred at 17:12a. Translate it here as you did there.

whoever divorces his wife: In this context, the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as whoever refers only to men.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

any man who divorces his wife (Good News Translation)
-or-
anyone who divorces his wife (New International Version)

except for sexual immorality: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as except for sexual immorality indicates that the only acceptable reason for divorce is sexual immorality.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

except for marital unfaithfulness (New International Version)
-or-
for any cause other than her unfaithfulness (Good News Translation)
-or-
and she has not committed adultery
-or-
and it was not because of adultery

In some languages, it will be more natural to put this clause at the end of 19:9. See the reordered example in the Display.

sexual immorality: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sexual immorality is a general term. It refers to any unacceptable form of sexual relations. Here Jesus used this word to refer to sexual relations outside of marriage.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

adultery
-or-
sexual relations with another man (New Century Version)

19:9b

and marries another woman: The subject of the verb marries is the same as the subject of “divorces” in 19:9a. It is “any man.” So the phrase another woman refers to “any other woman.”

commits adultery: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commits adultery refers to the act of sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse. In the law of Moses, adultery was strictly forbidden.

General Comment on 19:9

The King James Version follows some Greek manuscripts that add a phrase to this verse, probably to make it similar to 5:32. This phrase could be translated as “and whoever marries the woman who was divorced commits adultery.” Most English versions do not follow these manuscripts and add this phrase. It is recommended that you do not include it either.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:11

20:11

On receiving their pay: The words their pay refer to the single coin that the workers received as their wages.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

When they received their pay (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
When they got their coin (New Century Version)

they began to grumble against: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grumble means talked quietly and expressed unhappiness about something. In Greek, the form of this verb indicates that this grumbling started and was continuing.

The word translated as against also means “at.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they began complaining to (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they started criticizing

the landowner: This phrase translates the same Greek word as in 20:1a. You should translate it here as you did there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:9

22:9a

Go therefore: The Greek conjunction that the English Standard Version translates as therefore indicates a result. The first group of invited guests refused to come, so the king commanded his servants to Go to and invite other people.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

So go (NET Bible)

to the main roads: The Greek phrase that the English Standard Version translates as main roads is more literally “outlets of the roads.” It probably refers to the places where the city roads went through the city wall and extended out into the countryside. These were probably main roads, but that wasn’t the focus of the phrase.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

where the roads leave the city (God’s Word)
-or-
to the places where the paths/trails exit the town

22:9b

and invite to the wedding feast: The verb invite and the phrase the wedding feast are the same words as in 22:3b. There, the English Standard Version translates these words as “call…to the wedding feast.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Invite…to the wedding (God’s Word)
-or-
tell to come to the celebration

as many as you find: This phrase refers to everyone the servants found. The servants were not supposed to decide which people should come and which should not. They were supposed to invite everyone.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

whoever you find

-or-

everyone you see (New Living Translation (2004))

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:9

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