SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 82

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:22

15:22a

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated focuses attention on what follows. It indicates that what follows is important, unexpected, or amazing. Here a person who is not a Jew, and who is a woman, is an example to the disciples of someone with great faith.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Unexpectedly
-or-
Suddenly (Contemporary English Version)

Many English versions do not translate this phrase. In some languages, it will not be natural to translate this phrase either.

a Canaanite woman: The word Canaanite refers to a person whose ancestors lived in the area that the Old Testament called Canaan. Canaan was the land that God promised to give to Abraham’s descendants. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God told them to destroy all the people of Canaan because of their great sin. A few Canaanites survived. They and the Jews were enemies.

In this passage, instead of acting like an enemy, the Canaanite woman called to Jesus using a Jewish title for the Christ. That was very different from the religious leaders of the Jews. Those leaders should have accepted Jesus as the Christ, but they did not (15:1–20). In some languages, it may be necessary to put some of this information in a footnote.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

A Gentile woman (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a woman who was not a Jew

from that region: This phrase means that the Canaanite woman was from the area of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus had crossed the border between Israel and Phoenicia and was likely still close to the border. The woman was from that local area.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

from there
-or-
from that area (New Century Version)
-or-
who lived there

15:22b

came to Him: This phrase probably indicates that the woman came to Him from out of her house or her village, wanting to talk with Jesus. In some languages, it is more natural to simply say “came.” For example:

A Canaanite woman from that area came to Jesus (New Century Version)

crying out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out means “shouting” or “calling out with a loud voice” It does not mean “weeping.” The Greek tense of this verb indicates that the woman probably shouted the following words several times.

The woman was urgently seeking Jesus’ attention. The words she used show that she was respectful to him. She was not trying to be rude.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

pleading (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
started shouting (New Revised Standard Version)

15:22c

Before you translate 15:22c, think about the most natural order in your language for the parts of this verse. In the Greek, the phrase “Lord, Son of David” comes after the phrase “have mercy on me.” The Berean Standard Bible puts “Lord, Son of David” first because it is more natural in English. In some languages, it will be more natural to follow the Greek order. For example:

Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David (English Standard Version)

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Lord means “owner,” “master,” or “ruler.” It refers to someone who has authority over something. The woman probably used this word to politely speak to Jesus. She also showed that she saw him as someone of higher status and greater authority than she had.

Here are some other ways to translate Lord:

Sir
-or-
Master

The Berean Standard Bible translates this same Greek term as “Sir” in 13:27b.

Son of David: This is a title that the Jews used for the Christ (the Messiah). They used that title because God promised that the Christ would be a descendant of David. The woman probably learned some things about the Christ from her Jewish neighbors. She used this title to show her respect for Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this title:

the descendant of ⌊King⌋ David
-or-

⌊you⌋ grandson of David

See how you translated this same term in 9:27b.

have mercy on me: The woman used these words to politely and indirectly ask Jesus to help her. She did not just want Jesus to pity her. She wanted him to help her by healing her daughter.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

have pity/mercy on me
-or-

⌊please⌋ pity me ⌊and help me⌋

15:22d

My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon: These words indicate that a demon strongly controlled the daughter and was causing her to suffer.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

My daughter has a demon, and she is suffering very much. (New Century Version)

-or-

⌊Please help⌋ my daughter. A demon is making her suffer greatly.

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:15

16:15

“But what about you?”… “Who do you say I am?”: In Greek, this is more literally, “But you, who do you I am?” In Greek, the pronoun “you” is emphasized the first time it occurs in this clause. Jesus had just heard what other people said about him. Now he wanted to know who his own disciples thought that he was.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

But you,…who do you say I am? (New Jerusalem Bible)

-or-

And you, who do you say I am?

In Greek this is one question. Some English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, add a separate question to show that the pronoun you is emphasized. For example:

But what about you?…Who do you say I am? (New International Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:19

Paragraph 17:19–21

17:19a

Afterward: The events in this paragraph occur after Jesus and his disciples were by themselves. They either waited for the crowd to leave, or they walked away from the crowd.

Here are some other ways to begin this paragraph:

Then (English Standard Version)
-or-
Later (Contemporary English Version)

the disciples came to Jesus: The words came to refer to the disciples “approaching.” Jesus. They approached him with a question.

The disciples did not come to Jesus from a distance. They were already with him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the disciples approached Jesus (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
the disciples went to Jesus (Contemporary English Version)

privately: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as privately is the same phrase that occurs in 17:1b. There the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “by themselves.” It means that when the disciples spoke with Jesus, there was no one else around.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

by themselves
-or-
When they were alone

17:19b

Why couldn’t we drive it out?: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drive it out means “expel the demon” or “force the demon to leave” the boy. It refers to forcing the demon to stop controlling the boy and leave.

Jewish people often spoke of demons as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy? (God’s Word)
-or-
Why were we not able to send the demon away?

-or-

Why were we not able to cause the demon to come/go out ⌊of the boy⌋?

The expression drive…out also occurs in 7:22c. You should translate it the same way in both places.

General Comment on 17:19b

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

why they were not able to cast out the demon

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:24

18:24a

As he began the settlements: This clause indicates that the king had many servants to settle accounts with. They probably came to him one by one.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

When he began to do this (God’s Word)
-or-
When the king began to collect his money (New Century Version)
-or-
As began to collect his money

18:24b

a debtor was brought to him owing: The verb was brought indicates that other servants led in one by one each of the people who owed the king money. The picture is of the king perhaps on his throne with the servants who owed money waiting outside the throne room for their turn.

This verb is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

one of them was brought in who owed him (Good News Translation)

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊someone/they⌋ brought in one of the workers who owed him money

a debtor…owing: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a debtor…owing is more literally “one debtor.” It refers to one of the servants who owed him money.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

one of his debtors…who owed him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a man who owed him (New International Version)

ten thousand talents: This phrase refers to an enormous sum of money. The number ten thousand was the largest number that could be named in Greek. The word “talent” refers to the weight of metal such as silver or gold (1 talent = about 30 kilograms). It was the largest weight at that time. So the phrase ten thousand talents refers to an amount of money that was almost beyond imagination.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use the number 10,000 and borrow the word “talent” from English or a national language. Then explain the whole expression in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

The number 10,000 was the largest number you could say in Greek. A talent was the largest weight at the time. This was an enormous sum of money. It was so big you could not count it.

• Use the number 10,000 and replace “talent” with another expression. For example:

10,000 large pieces of money
-or-
ten thousand bags of gold (NIVUK)

• Use an expression that means “an enormous sum of money.” For example:

millions of coins

The last two options could also include a footnote. For example:

This was an enormous sum of money. It was so big you could not count it.

Some English versions use the American currency “dollars.” It is not recommended that you translate the term ten thousand talents using an amount of money in your national currency. The value of the currency used may change over time. In addition, using a modern currency removes this story from its historical setting.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:21

19:21a

If you want to be perfect: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to be perfect also means “to be complete/whole/mature.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

If you want to be complete
-or-
If you want to lack nothing
-or-
If you want to have no faults

19:21b

go: This is a command. It does not specify where the young man should go. It just assumes that he will have to go to where he lives to take care of what Jesus told him to do. It is the opposite of the verb “come” at the end of the verse.

sell: The verb sell assumes that the young man would get money for his possessions.

your possessions: In Greek, this phrase is plural. It refers to everything that the young man owned.

Here are some other ways to translate it:

what you possess (English Standard Version)
-or-
everything you own (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
all your property (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

and give to the poor: This clause implies that the young man should take the money he received for his possessions and give it to the poor. For example:

and give the money to the poor (New Century Version)

the poor: This phrase refers to people who are in poverty. They have little money and possessions.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

poor people

19:21c

and: In Greek, 19:21c is joined to the beginning of the verse with the common conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible frequently translates as and.

Here are some other ways to begin 19:21c:

If you do this (New Century Version)
-or-
As a result

you will have treasure in heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as treasure refers to something that is very valuable. The phrase treasure in heaven probably refers to rewards from God. (This same phrase occurs in 6:20a.) God will reward his people for “acts of righteousness” such as giving to the poor (6:2–4).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Use the same word for treasures as in 6:19a. Such a word can be used to refer to figurative or spiritual treasures. For example:

you will have treasure/wealth in heaven
-or-
you will have riches in heaven (Good News Translation)

• Use a word or expression that refers to spiritual treasures. For example:

you will have rewards in heaven for doing good
-or-
you will receive that which is worth much in heaven

19:21d

Then come, follow Me: Here, Jesus used the verb follow in a figurative sense. He meant that the young man should become his disciple.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Then come and be my follower (Contemporary English Version)

This figurative sense of the word follow first occurs in 4:19a. See the note there for more information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:23

20:23a

You will indeed drink My cup: In Greek, this clause includes the word indeed, a word that the some versions do not translate. In this context, this word affirms the truth of this statement. The next clause (20:23b) is matched to it and gives a contrasting idea.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

You will indeed drink from my bitter cup (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You certainly will drink from my cup! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

It is true that you will suffer like I will soon suffer

drink My cup: As in 20:22b, the word cup represents suffering. The phrase My cup refers to the suffering that Jesus was going to experience in Jerusalem.

You should translate the expression drink My cup in a similar way to 20:22b.

20:23b

But: There is a contrast between 20:23a and 20:23b–c. James and John would certainly suffer like Jesus (20:23a). But that does not mean that they will have the places of honor (20:23b–c) next to him.

The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

to sit at My right or left: As in 20:21c, the phrase right or left means “left side or right side.” The left and right sides of a king were positions of honor.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

as for who sits on my right and left
-or-
the person will sit on my right side and left side

In some languages, it is more natural to put this clause after “is not Mine to grant.” See the Display for an example.

is not Mine to grant: In Greek, this clause is more literally “this is not mine to give.” Jesus implied that he did not have the authority to give those positions of honor to anyone.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I do not have permission to give
-or-
I do not have the authority to say who
-or-
I have no right to say who (New Living Translation (2004))

20:23c

There is a contrast here. The contrast is between a negative clause (in 20:23b) and a positive clause here in 20:23c. The negative clause is “to sit at My right…is not Mine to grant.” The positive clause is “These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.” Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive type of contrast. Here are some of the ways:

• With the conjunction “but.”

• With a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of contrast. For example:

Rather (NET Bible)
-or-
on the contrary
-or-
Instead

• With no conjunction. For example:

These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father. (New International Version)

These seats belong to those: The Berean Standard Bible has added the words These seats belong. These words are not in Greek. The Berean Standard Bible has added them to make the sentence more natural in English.

The English Standard Version expresses a similar idea by adding “it is for those,” probably using the singular word “it” to refer to the role or function that the two brothers wanted to have in the kingdom. It is also possible to use a plural word. For example:

Those places belong to those (New International Version)
-or-
Those seats are for those people

for whom My Father has prepared them: This clause means that the Father has already decided who will sit on the right and left side of Jesus. He has already prepared that role/function for certain people. He has already made ready those places for people whom he has chosen.

In the Greek this clause is a passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

for whom they have been prepared by my Father (New International Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

for whom my Father has prepared them (Good News Translation)
-or-
My Father has already prepared these positions for certain people. (God’s Word)

-or-

My Father has already decided who will sit in those places.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:21

22:21a

They said, “Caesar’s”: There are some words here that are implied but were not said. The complete response would be:

They belong to Caesar
-or-
They are the Emperor’s face and name

22:21b

Then he said to them: The Greek conjunction that the English Standard Version translates as Then introduces the next event in a sequence. Some English translations do not translate it and let the context suggest the connection.

Therefore: Jesus used the word Therefore to introduce the conclusion to his argument. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Well, then (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
In that case

render to Caesar: The Greek verb that the English Standard Version translates as render means “give back.” This verb is similar to the verb in the original question (in 22:17b) which the English Standard Version translates as “pay.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

give back to Caesar (New International Version)
-or-
pay the Emperor (Good News Translation)
-or-
return to the king/chief

the things that are Caesar’s: This phrase refers to things that belong to Caesar, such as the coins he made with his face on them. However, the translation should remain general rather than naming anything in particular. For example:

what belongs to Caesar (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

22:21c

and to God: Some words from 2:22b are implied here but are not repeated. The complete clause would be:

and ⌊give back⌋ to God

the things that are God’s: It is important to translate this in the same way that 22:21b is translated. For example:

what belongs to God

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 1:6

1:6a

David the king: It may be more natural in your language to indicate that David became king many years after he was born. For example:

David ⌊who later became⌋ king

king: The word king refers to a ruler who has highest authority over a large region, usually a country.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

high/supreme leader
-or-
chief

Paragraph 1:6b–11

The second group of fourteen names of men in the family line of Jesus starts at 1:6b.

1:6b

Solomon by Uriah’s wife: In this verse, Solomon’s mother is identified as the Uriah’s wife. Her name was Bathsheba. But when Solomon was born, Bathsheba was married to David. This is because David caused Uriah to die in a war and then married Bathsheba. Solomon was born after David married her. (The full story is in 2 Samuel chapters 11–12.)

In some languages, it may be important to indicate that Uriah was dead when Solomon was born. For example:

whose mother had been ⌊the late⌋ Uriah’s wife
-or-
by the ⌊former⌋ wife of Uriah
-or-
by the widow of Uriah

-or-

(his mother was the woman who had been Uriah’s wife) (Good News Translation)

Search

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 20:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 22:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 1:6

Search

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society