SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 81

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 11:16

Paragraph 11:16–19

In this paragraph, Jesus compared the people of his generation to children playing in the market. The people of that generation criticized John’s harsh lifestyle and did not respond to his message. They also criticized Jesus’ joyous lifestyle and did not respond to his message. They were like children who refused to dance to happy songs, but they also refused to mourn to sad songs. They were never satisfied. They rejected both John and Jesus.

11:16a

Verse 11:16a begins a new topic. The Greek introduces this new topic with a conjunction that is often translated as “but.” However, there is no contrast here. In most languages, it will be better to begin this paragraph without the word “but,” as the Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions do.

To what can I compare this generation?: This is a rhetorical question. It is the type of rhetorical question that a teacher asks a class. The teacher knows the answer, but he asks the class this type of question to make them think about the issue. Here Jesus also used this question to introduce a new topic.

Be careful not to translate this in a way that would imply that Jesus was searching for an answer to his question. Jesus himself gave the answer in 11:16b–17.

Here are some other ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What/Whom shall I compare this generation to?

• As a statement. For example:

Here is what I would compare this generation to:

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

this generation: This phrase refers to all the people who lived at the same time as Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the people of this day (Good News Translation)
-or-
the people who are living now (God’s Word)

11:16b

They are like: The pronoun They refers to “this generation.” In some languages, it will be more natural to say:

This generation is like

children sitting in the marketplaces: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as marketplaces refers to a large, open area where people came to buy and sell things. There was room for children to play there. It was a place where many public events happened.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

market (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
public/village square
-or-
middle of the village

11:16c

calling out: The words calling out refer to speaking loudly so that people some distance away can hear. Some English versions translate this word as “shout,” but it is not the type of shout that angry people do. Here it is more of a complaint.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

call out (NET Bible)
-or-
complain (New Living Translation (2004))

to others: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to others refers to the other children who were there. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to the others

-or-

to their friends (New Living Translation (2004))

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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 12:18

12:18a

As mentioned above, God is the one who spoke through Isaiah. In some languages, it will be natural to make this explicit at the beginning of the quote. For example:

God said

Here is My Servant: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Here is literally “Look.” This word focuses attention on what follows and indicates that it is important, unexpected, or amazing. In this context, this word introduces the main character of the quote from the Old Testament.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Here is my servant (New International Version)
-or-
This one is my servant

My Servant: A Servant is someone who works for another person and is submissive to him. God called the Christ (the Messiah) his servant to show that he is humble and submissive to God. The term you use in your translation should include these qualities of humility and submission.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

my ⌊humble⌋ worker
-or-
the one who serves me
-or-
the one who does my will

whom I have chosen: This is a relative clause. It further describes the person whom God called his servant. Be careful to translate this clause in a way that does not imply that God has another servant whom he did not choose.

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this relative clause as a separate sentence. For example:

I have chosen him.

12:18b

My beloved: This phrase means “the person whom I love.” It is yet another way to describe the person whom God also called “My Servant” in 12:18a.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

⌊he is⌋ the one whom I love
-or-
I love him (Contemporary English Version)

in whom My soul delights: The phrase My soul here refers to one’s self. In this case, it refers to God himself.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I am very pleased with him
-or-
he pleases me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
my heart is very glad with him

Some languages have idioms to translate this clause.

12:18c

I will put My Spirit on Him: The words put My Spirit on Him refer to giving the servant power. God will cause the Holy Spirit to help the servant to know things and do miracles.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I will give him my Spirit (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will send my Spirit to him ⌊to do the deeds that I want him to do⌋

12:18d

He will proclaim: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as proclaim means “make known publicly.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

announce (Good News Translation)
-or-
declare (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
tell (New Century Version)

justice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justice also means “judgment” (as in the Good News Translation). This word does not only imply punishment. It refers to judging and rewarding those who accept God, and judging and punishing the wicked. God is fair and will act rightly. His judgment is honest and without corruption. For this reason, many English versions translate this word as justice.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

my justice (New Century Version)
-or-
true/right judgment
-or-

⌊that my/God’s⌋ judgment ⌊is honest⌋
-or-

⌊that I/God will⌋ judge ⌊honestly⌋
-or-

⌊that my government is⌋ honest/fair

the nations: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nations:

(1) It is used in its most wide sense to refer to all people groups, including Jews. Jesus came to proclaim justice to all nations. For example:

all people (New Century Version)

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

(2) It is used in its restricted sense to refer to all people groups except the Jews. When a Jew referred to other people groups, he used this word. In those cases English versions translate it as “Gentiles.” For example:

the Gentiles (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, English Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Jesus came to proclaim God’s justice to everyone, especially the Jews.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:50

12:50

For: Verse 12:50 explains what Jesus said in 12:49. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

whoever does the will of My Father in heaven: This clause means “whoever does what my Father wants/desires” or “whoever obeys God.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants (Good News Translation)
-or-
The person who does what my heavenly Father wants him to do
-or-
Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven (Contemporary English Version)

is My brother and sister and mother: Some languages distinguish between older brother and sister, and younger brother and sister. If that is true in your language, you should use the term for younger brother and younger sister. For example:

is my ⌊younger⌋ brother and ⌊younger⌋ sister and mother

-or-

is ⌊like⌋ my ⌊younger⌋ sibling and my mother

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:32

13:32a

it is the smallest of all seeds: The Greek text is literally “which is smaller than all the seeds.” The Greek text exaggerates the smallness of the seed to emphasize its smallness. This helps teach the point about the kingdom of God starting with only a few people.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Translate literally. For example:

It is the smallest of all seeds (Good News Translation)

• Explain the exaggeration. For example:

it is the smallest of all ⌊garden⌋ seeds

• Indicate in a general way that the mustard seed is a very small seed. For example:

It’s one of the smallest seeds (God’s Word)
-or-
It is a very small seed.

13:32b

yet: There is something unexpected here. We would expect a small seed to grow into a small plant. But a small mustard seed grows into a large plant.

Here are some ways to introduce this unexpected thing:

• Use a conjunction in 13:32b. For example:

However, when it has grown (God’s Word)

• Use a conjunction in 13:32a. For example:

32a
Although it is the smallest of all seeds, 32bit grows larger (Contemporary English Version)

Use whatever is natural in your language to indicate that something unexpected is about to be said.

it grows into the largest of garden plants: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as garden plants refers to vegetable and herb plants. These plants do not normally grow more than one meter high. However, the mustard plant can grow as high as three meters high. It was the largest plant that the Jews planted in their vegetable gardens.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants (God’s Word)
-or-
when it has grown, it is bigger than all the other plants in the vegetable garden

13:32c

becomes a tree: A mustard plant can grow up to three meters tall, and it has branches. It is more like a large shrub than a tree. Jesus said becomes a tree to make a strong connection to the Old Testament symbol of a great kingdom. (See more on this issue under the General Comment below.)

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

it grows into a tree (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
it grows big enough to be ⌊considered/called⌋ a tree

so that the birds of the air come: The phrase the birds of the air is the Jewish way of referring to “birds.” In many languages, it will be more natural to just say “birds.” For example:

so that birds come (Good News Translation)
-or-
that is large enough for birds (God’s Word)

and nest in its branches: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nest means “live, dwell, settle.” Most English versions translate this word as “make nests” or as the verb “nest.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

perch in its branches (New International Version)

-or-

shelter in its branches (New Jerusalem Bible)

General Comment on 13:32

When a Jew heard about a tree so large that birds could come and make their nests in it, he would immediate think of some Old Testament passages (Ezekiel 17:23, Daniel 4:20–22) that had similar wording. Such passages were about great kingdoms. So a Jew would understand that Jesus was talking about the kingdom of heaven/God becoming a great kingdom.

You may need a footnote to explain the Jewish symbolism for the tree and birds. Here is a sample footnote:

In the Old Testament, God compared several great kingdoms to great trees that were so large that birds came and nested in its branches. When Jesus spoke of God’s kingdom being like a tree with birds perching in its branches, the Jews would quickly understand that God’s kingdom would become great as well.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:6

Paragraph 14:6–12

14:6a

On: Between the events of 14:3–5 and this paragraph, John has been in prison for several months to a year. Here are some other ways to indicate this:

⌊some time later,⌋ when it was
-or-

⌊months later,⌋ when it was

Herod’s birthday: The Greek term that the Berean Standard Bible translates as birthday means a “birthday celebration.” Herod was celebrating the day of the year when he had been born. He celebrated by having a feast. In Roman culture, these feasts often included wine to get drunk and women for sex. The family of Herod followed much of the Roman culture.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Herod’s birthday feast/celebration
-or-
the day when another year of Herod’s life was finished
-or-
the day ⌊of the year⌋ on which Herod had been born

however: There is a contrast here. In the previous paragraph, even though Herod wanted to kill John, he did not do it. But in this paragraph, he does have him killed. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this contrast with the conjunction however.

Some English versions do not begin this paragraph with the conjunction however. In some languages, a conjunction like “but” will not be necessary either.

14:6b

the daughter of Herodias: This was the daughter of Herodias by her previous husband. She was not the daughter of Herod. She was of marriageable age in that culture, probably between thirteen and eighteen years old.

danced: The daughter danced to entertain the people at the celebration. In that culture, it could have been a kind of dance that was sensual.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

⌊entertained them by⌋ dancing
-or-
danced ⌊to please Herod⌋

before them: This phrase indicates that the daughter of Herodias danced “in front of the people at the celebration.” She danced so that the people at the celebration could watch her. This included Herod’s guests, and also Herod.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in front of the whole group (Good News Translation)
-or-
for the people whom Herod invited
-or-
while the people watched her

14:6c

and pleased Herod: Herod thoroughly enjoyed the dancing of the young woman. The subject of the verb pleased is either “the daughter of Herodias” or “the dancing.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

she pleased Herod (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Herod was so delighted with her (God’s Word)

-or-

a dance that greatly pleased him (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:2

15:2a–b

Before you translate 15:2, think about the most natural order for 2a and 2b. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2b first. For example:

2bYour disciples do not wash their hands before they eat! 2aWhy do they break the tradition of the elders ⌊like that⌋?

15:2a

Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?: This is a rhetorical question. It is a rebuke. The Pharisees and scribes who came to Jesus rebuked/scolded him because they believed that his disciples broke the tradition of the elders.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
-or-
Your disciples break the tradition of the elders. Why?

• As a statement. For example:

Your disciples break the tradition of the elders!
-or-
Your disciples should not break the tradition of the elders!

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

break: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as break also means “disobey.” Use a verb in your language that refers to not following a tradition or custom.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

do not keep/follow
-or-
do not obey

the tradition of the elders: This phrase refers to the oral laws/rules that Jewish elders had added to the written law of Moses. These oral laws had been added and taught over a period of centuries. The Pharisees believed that it was as important to keep these oral laws as it was to keep the written law of Moses.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the traditions of our ancestors (God’s Word)
-or-
the laws/rules that come from our forefathers
-or-
the customs/teachings of our fathers
-or-
what our ancestors taught us to do (Contemporary English Version)

the elders: Here the word elders refers to Jewish religious leaders of earlier generations. These religious leaders passed down their teachings to the Jews of later generations.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

ancestors (Good News Translation)
-or-
forefathers

15:2b

The Greek begins this clause with a conjunction that is often translated as “For.” It indicates that 15:2b is the reason for the question in 15:2a.

Here is another way to introduce this reason:

⌊We ask this⌋ because

In some languages, it may be more natural to leave this conjunction untranslated. This is what the Berean Standard Bible and New International Version do.

They do not wash their hands before they eat: This sentence means that the disciples did not follow the elders’ rules. They did not wash/rinse their hands before they ate in the way that their ancestors said that they should. One of the teachings of the elders was to ceremonially rinse their hands before meals. They poured water over each hand in a certain way. Then they considered their hands to be ceremonially clean. That way, the food would remain ceremonially clean when they touched it and ate it.

The law of Moses did not require people to wash their hands in this way. This was one of the traditions that the elders added to the law.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

They don’t wash their hands in the proper way before they eat! (Good News Translation)

-or-

Before they eat, they do not ⌊follow the correct way to⌋ wash their hands.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:34

15:34a

How many loaves do you have?: This is a real question, not a rhetorical question. Jesus wanted his disciples to find out how much bread they already had.

loaves: This is the same word in Greek as the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “bread” in 15:33. It can refer to food in general or specifically to “bread.” Since it is not natural in English to use the plural of “bread,” the Berean Standard Bible translates this word as loaves.

Jesus likely used the word in the same general sense as the disciples did in 15:33b.

15:34b

Seven: In the Greek, the word translated Seven refers to “seven loaves of bread.” Here it will probably be necessary to use a specific term for bread rather than a general word for food.

These loaves of bread probably refer 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:

seven loaves ⌊of bread⌋
-or-
seven ⌊small⌋ breads

and a few small fish: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fish refers here to fresh-water fish that have been salted or dried so that they were ready to eat.

Jesus asked the disciples how much bread they had. They answered that question. Plus, they added that they had a few fish.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:27

16:27a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces another basis for Jesus’ statement in 16:24. There he says that a disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus (16:24). Here he says that that is true for/because God will judge people according to their deeds.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Because
-or-
The reason is that

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

the Son of Man: In Matthew, this phrase first occurs in 8:20b. See the Note there for more information on translating this phrase. This phrase last occurs in 16:13b. You should translate it here as you did there.

will come: There are three ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will come:

(1) It means that the Son of Man will certainly come. For example:

is going to come (New International Version)

(New International Version, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It means that the Son of Man will soon come. For example:

will soon come (Contemporary English Version)

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)

(3) It simply means that the Son of Man will come at some point in the future.

will come (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the best way to understand the Greek phrase.

with His angels: Here the pronoun His refers to Jesus. Jesus was saying that he will come with his angels.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

⌊I⌋ the Son of Man will come with my angels

For help in translating the word angels, see the note in 13:39c.

16:27b

in His Father’s glory: The phrase in the glory of his Father indicates that Jesus will have/show the glory/greatness of his Father. When people see him come, they will see the same power, greatness and brightness that his Father has. As a person is dressed in clothes, Jesus will come in glory.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

with his Father’s glory/greatness
-or-
in the middle of the honor/power of his Father
-or-
surrounded by the authority of his Father

His Father’s: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Father’s is the ordinary word used to refer to a male parent. By using a term like this, Jesus said something about his relationship to God. He said that it is like the relationship between a human father and son. But it does not say that God is just like a human father. It also does not say that he created/produced Jesus in the way a human father produces a son.

In your translation you should use the ordinary term for father, just as Jesus did. If the people in your area might misunderstand the term in this context, you might add a footnote to help them understand. For instance:

Jesus spoke about God as his Father, but this does not mean that God gave birth to him. Instead, the term refers to a relationship between God as Father and Jesus as Son. Their relationship is close and intimate like a human father and son.

Here is another way to translate this word:

⌊heavenly⌋ Father

glory: The word glory refers to qualities connected with brightness and brilliance. This sort of brightness is connected with things which are powerful, like the sun. It is also connected with things which are valuable, like sparkling jewels or shiny gold.

We can also use these qualities to describe people or God. They describe how they look, how they act and what people say about them.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

majesty/greatness
-or-
power/authority
-or-
splendor/radiance

16:27c

repay each one: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as repay includes both the idea of:

(a) rewarding those who have done good, and

(b) punishing those who have done evil.

Your translation of this word should include both meanings.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

give each person what he deserves
-or-
reward or punish each person

according to: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as according to indicates that a person’s reward or punishment is based on what he has done.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

based on (God’s Word)
-or-
matching

what he has done: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what he has done is more literally “his deed” or “his activity.” It probably refers to the person’s decision to deny himself and take up his cross. Or it may refer to the whole of the person’s life after that decision to follow Jesus. So, it is a restatement of what Jesus said in 16:25–26.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

his deeds (Good News Translation)
-or-
his behavior
-or-
the good or bad he has done

-or-

the way he has lived

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 11:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:50

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:32

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:34

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:27

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