SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 87

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:14

12:14

But: There is a contrast between 12:13 and 12:14. The contrast is between what we might expect people to do after a miracle, and how the Pharisees reacted in 12:14. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

Here are some other ways to translate this in English:

However
-or-
Nevertheless
-or-
In spite of this

This verse is also the next event in this story. Some versions indicate this rather than the contrast. For example:

Then (Good News Translation)

went out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went out indicates that the Pharisees left the synagogue.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

left (Good News Translation)
-or-
exited

plotted: The verb plotted means “made plans.” In this case, their plans were evil.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

made plans to (Good News Translation)
-or-
planned how

-or-

met and discussed ways to

© 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 12:46

Section 12:46–50

Jesus taught about who is his true family

In this section, Jesus showed that all who obey God are members of his/Jesus’ spiritual family.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The True Family of Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The people whom Jesus considered to be his true family
-or-
People who do the will of God are like the true family of Jesus

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 3:31–35 and Luke 8:19–21.

Paragraph 12:46–50

12:46a

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds: Verse 12:46a connects this paragraph with the preceding paragraphs. Even though Jesus had been speaking primarily to the scribes and Pharisees in 12:38–45, other people were also listening since 12:23.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

While Jesus was still talking to the crowds (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus continued talking with the people.

12:46b

The Greek word that begins this clause is left untranslated in the Berean Standard Bible, but some English versions translate it as “behold.” This word focuses attention on what follows and indicates that it is important, unexpected, or amazing. In this context, this word introduces the main topic of this paragraph: Jesus’ mother and brothers. Many English versions translate this word as “look” or “behold” in this context.

His…brothers: Church groups differ in what they believe about Jesus’ brothers. Here are the three main views:

(1) They were the sons of Joseph and Mary, born after Jesus.

(2) They were Jesus’ cousins.

(3) They were children of Joseph from a previous marriage. That is, they were Jesus’ step-brothers.

The Hebrew and Aramaic words for “brother” do not distinguish between biological brothers and cousins. It is good to use a general word for “brother” that could apply to any of the views above. For example, you may have a word that could refer to:

(a) brothers with the same father and mother,

(b) brothers with the same father but different mothers, and

If you must use a more specific word, it is recommended that you consult with all major church groups in your language area. You will want to choose a word that is acceptable to the churches.

If your language must distinguish between “older” and “younger” brothers, it is recommended that you use a term for “younger brothers” here. If your language does not use terms that distinguish male and female, such as brother or sister, it may be more natural to use general terms. For example:

siblings
-or-
younger-siblings

stood outside: There is some implied information in this part of the verse:

(a) Jesus was at this time speaking from inside a house.

(b) Jesus mother and brothers had not been present in the crowd in the previous paragraph, but now they arrived.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

came and stood outside (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
stood outside ⌊the house⌋
-or-
when his mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside (Good News Translation)

12:46c

wanting to speak to Him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wanting can mean “seeking/trying,” “wanting,” or “asking.” So this clause can simply mean that “they wanted to speak to Jesus.” Or it can mean that “they told people that they wanted to speak with him.” Either one is possible and acceptable.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They wanted to talk to him. (God’s Word)
-or-
trying to find a way to talk to him. (New Century Version)

-or-

They said that they wanted to speak with Jesus.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:28

13:28a

An enemy did this: The word this refers to planting weeds in the wheat field.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It was some enemy who did this (Good News Translation)
-or-
An enemy planted weeds. (New Century Version)

13:28b

So: Verse 13:28b is the servants’ response to the field owner’s statement. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this response with the conjunction So. Many English versions do not have a conjunction here. In some languages, no conjunction will be necessary here either.

Do you want us to go and pull them up: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pull them up means “gather” or “collect.” Here it refers to removing the weeds. The word them refers to the weeds.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

pull up the weeds (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

pull out the weeds (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:2

14:2a

his servants: This word refers to assistants who advised rulers about their decisions. This is a different Greek word than the word translated as slaves.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

advisers (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
officials (Good News Translation)
-or-
aides/helpers/workers

This is John the Baptist: Herod mistakenly thought that Jesus was John the Baptist. The words that Herod said in this verse were his opinion. They were not the truth.

Here are some ways to make this clear:

he ⌊mistakenly⌋ said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.
-or-

⌊He thought that Jesus was John the Baptist. So⌋ he said to his servants, “That man is John the Baptizer.

John the Baptist: You should translate this phrase as you did in 3:1a.

14:2b

he has risen from the dead!: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He has come back from the dead
-or-
He has returned from the place of the dead
-or-
He has become alive again.

The text does not say who Herod thought raised John. So you should avoid saying that “God” raised him from the dead.

14:2c

That is why: This phrase introduces the result part of a reason-result pair of clauses. The reason is “he has risen from the dead” (in 14:2b). Herod believed that if someone came back from the dead, he would have special powers. So he believed that the miracles that he heard about were the result of John coming back from the dead.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

that is the reason why
-or-
for this reason
-or-
and as a result

miraculous powers are at work in him: This clause means that John had the power to do miracles.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he has the power to perform these miracles (God’s Word)
-or-
he can do such miracles (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he has received the power to do those miracles

-or-

he is able to do those miracles

miraculous powers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as miraculous powers is the same word as in 13:54d. You can translate both passages using the same term.

General Comment on 14:2b–c

The clause “he has risen from the dead” (14:2b) is the reason clause. The clause “That is why miraculous powers are at work in him” (14:2c) is the result clause. In some languages, it may be natural to change the order of the reason and result clauses. For example:

2cHe has the power to do these miracles 2bbecause he has been raised from the dead.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:34

Paragraph 14:34–36

14:34a

When they had crossed over: This clause means that Jesus and his disciples traveled/sailed the rest of the way across the lake in the boat. They reached the other side of the lake.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

After they finished crossing ⌊the lake⌋
-or-
When they finished going across ⌊the lake and arrived at the other side⌋

14:34b

they landed: This clause means that the disciples brought the boat to the land at the edge of the lake. That is where they landed and docked the boat. It is implied that they then got out of the boat onto the shore.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they came to shore (New Century Version)
-or-
they came to land (English Standard Version)
-or-
they reached the edge of the lake, ⌊then they got out of the boat⌋

at Gennesaret: This was the name of a village and the surrounding area on the northwest shore of Lake Galilee. The village was south of the town of Capernaum. It is not known whether Gennesaret here refers to the village or to the area.

Here is another way to translate this word:

near ⌊the village of⌋ Gennesaret

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:30

15:30a

Large crowds: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as Large crowds can be translated more literally as “many crowds.” The plural crowds perhaps indicates that groups of people came from different areas. Perhaps one group came from one town, and another group came from another town.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

many groups of people
-or-
many people

15:30b

the lame: The word lame refers to those who could not walk or use their legs well. There was something wrong with one or both legs.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the crippled
-or-
people who had crippled legs
-or-
those with bad legs
-or-
those who could not walk well

This word also occurs in 11:5a.

15:30c

the crippled: The word crippled refers to people who have something wrong with an arm or a leg. Their arm or leg was deformed in some way. Or they may be missing part of an arm or a leg.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

the maimed (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
those with ruined limbs
-or-
the handicapped

the mute: The word mute refers to people who are unable to talk. The Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible use the word “dumb,” which in this context, means the same as mute. Here it does not mean “stupid.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those unable to talk

15:30d

many others: This phrase refers to other people who had other types of handicaps. It may also refer to those who had diseases. And it may also refer to people who were demon possessed. Some languages use different words for people who are handicapped, those who are sick with diseases, and those who are demon possessed. So it may be necessary to use two or more different expressions here. For example:

many other ⌊afflicted⌋ people
-or-
many other people ⌊who had handicaps and who were sick⌋

15:30e

and laid them at His feet: This clause means “they placed the handicapped people in front of Jesus.” For example:

They placed them…in front of Jesus (Contemporary English Version)

and He healed them: Jesus miraculously healed everyone who was handicapped and everyone who was sick. He immediately made each person well. He did not heal them like a doctor heals.

As mentioned above, some languages use different words for people who are sick with a disease and people who are handicapped. In these languages, the verb healed may refer only to curing those who had a disease. Such languages may need to use a second verb to refer to Jesus restoring handicapped people. Or there may be a more general term to cover both. For example:

he made them all well

-or-

he ⌊miraculously⌋ healed them and made them well

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:23

16:23a

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But often shows contrast. Here it introduces the words that Jesus said. These words show that he did not agree with what Peter has just said. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction.

Jesus turned and said to Peter: Peter may have started to rebuke Jesus while they walked side by side and away from the other disciples. Here, when Jesus wanted to rebuke/scold Peter, he turned and faced him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus turned to face Peter and said to him
-or-
Jesus faced Peter and said

Get behind Me, Satan!: This is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked Peter for saying things that came from Satan. Peter had tempted Jesus not to follow God’s will, and Jesus strongly rejected that idea.

These words do not mean that Jesus ordered Peter to go away. He told Peter not to stop him from following God’s will.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Get out of my way, Satan! (God’s Word)
-or-
Out of my sight, Satan! (Revised English Bible)

In some languages, it may be confusing for Jesus to call Peter Satan. If that is true in your language, you may need to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

⌊You are like⌋ Satan. Get away from me.
-or-

⌊That idea from⌋ Satan should go/be far from me!
-or-

⌊What you are saying is from⌋ Satan. Get out of my way!

For help to translate the word Satan, see the Note at 4:10a.

16:23b

You are a stumbling block to Me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stumbling block more literally means “a trap” (as in the New Living Translation (2004)). This refers to a stone or other thing that blocks a path or causes a person to stumble. Peter was a stumbling block because he was trying to stop Jesus from following God’s plan. It is sometimes translated in English as “hindrance” (as in the English Standard Version). It is often used figuratively to refer to something that tempts a person into sin.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You are an obstacle in my way (Good News Translation)
-or-
You are blocking my path
-or-
You are trying to stop me from following God’s plan/path
-or-
You are tempting me to sin (God’s Word)

16:23c

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the basis for the things that Jesus said in 16:23b. Peter was hindering Jesus (16:23b) for/because he was not thinking the way that God thinks (16:23c).

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

because (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
The reason ⌊I say this is⌋

Some English versions allow the context to indicate this connection. They do not explicitly translate this conjunction. Translate this connection in a natural way in your language.

you do not have in mind the things of God: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have in mind means “think.” The words that Peter said in 16:22 came from his thoughts as a human being. They were not God’s thoughts or God’s will.

Peter thought that it was important for the Messiah to have a victory in the same way that people have victories. But God had a different plan.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You aren’t thinking the way God thinks (God’s Word)
-or-
these thoughts of yours don’t come from God (Good News Translation)
-or-
the way you are thinking, it is not what God wants

you: The pronoun you here refers to Peter. It does not refer to Satan. Be sure that this is clear in your translation. For example, you might say:

you, Peter

the things of God: In this context, the phrase the things of God refers to God’s thoughts, plans and will. It does not refer to physical things.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the way God thinks (God’s Word)

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between “not thinking the things of God,” and “thinking the things of man.” 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
-or-
on the contrary
-or-
Instead

• With no conjunction. For example:

You are not thinking the things of God. You are thinking the things of man.

the things of men: Some words from the previous clause are implied but not repeated here. In some languages, it may be more natural to repeat some of those words from the previous clause. For example:

⌊you are thinking⌋ the way that humans think
-or-

⌊these thoughts come⌋ from a human way of thinking

things of men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as men refers to “humans.” Here it does not refer only to males.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the way humans think (God’s Word)
-or-
from a human point of view (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
as people think

General Comment on 16:23c

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses and put the positive clause first. For example:

you think like everyone else and not like God (Contemporary English Version)

Paragraph 16:24–28

In this paragraph Jesus spoke to all the disciples, including Peter. He is also speaking to all of us. He wanted to teach about how to understand things from God’s perspective. He also hinted how the lives of those who follow him will change.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:27

17:27a

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between what Jesus implied (that he and Peter should not be required to pay the tax), and what he commanded Peter to do (pay the tax for both of them). The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

Here is another way to indicate this contrast:

However (English Standard Version)

If people in your area do not understand this contrast, you may want to:

• Make the contrast explicit in the text. For example:

⌊So then we are also exempt.⌋ However
-or-

⌊Likewise we are not required to pay.⌋ But

This implied information can be put at the end of 17:26 (as in the Display), or at the beginning of 17:27.

• Explain the contrast in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

Jesus implied that God did not require Jesus and his followers to pay this tax for the temple.

so that we may not offend them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offend them also means “shock” or “anger.” It refers to someone doing something that causes others to be upset with him. If Jesus had refused to pay the temple tax, the tax collectors would have been angry or upset with him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

so that we don’t offend them (NET Bible)
-or-
we don’t want to upset these tax collectors (New Century Version)

-or

we don’t want them to be angry/irritated at us ⌊by not paying the tax⌋
-or-

⌊If we do not pay the tax,⌋ these men will be upset with us. We don’t want to do that.

them: The pronoun them refers to the tax collectors.

Here are some other ways to translate this pronoun:

these people (Good News Translation)
-or-
these tax collectors (New Century Version)

17:27b

go to the sea: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sea refers to a large freshwater lake. It was Lake Galilee which was also called the Sea of Galilee. This lake is 23 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide (14 miles long and 6 miles wide).

Here is another way to translate this clause:

go to the lake (New International Version)

The word sea last occurred in 15:29b. You should translate it here as you did there.

cast a hook: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cast a hook are more literally “throw a fishhook.” Jesus told Peter to catch a fish using a hook that a small rope or string was tied to. You should use your natural expression for catching a fish in this way.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

throw out your fishing line
-or-
fish with a line/hook

If your culture does not fish in this way, use a general expression for catching a fish. For example:

catch a fish
-or-
go fishing

take the first fish you catch: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fish you catch probably refers to a fish swimming up from deep water to bite the hook. You should translate the idea of catching a fish in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Take the first fish that comes up (English Standard Version)
-or-
Take the first fish that bites (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

17:27c

you will find a four-drachma coin: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as four-drachma coin is the name of a Greek coin called a stater. This coin was worth enough to pay the temple tax for two people.

Here is another way to translate this word:

a coin (God’s Word)
-or-
a large silver coin (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a coin worth enough for my Temple tax and yours (Good News Translation)

17:27d

Take it and give it to them: The pronoun it refers to the coin. The pronoun them refers to the tax collectors.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Take that coin and give it to the tax collectors (New Century Version)

for My tax and yours: The coin was worth enough to pay the temple tax for Jesus and Peter.

The Berean Standard Bible follows the Greek order and says My tax and yours. In some languages, it is more natural to say “you and me.” (See the Contemporary English Version below.) You should follow the order that is most natural in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to pay your taxes and mine (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

and pay the tax for both of us (New Living Translation (2004))

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 12:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:46

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:34

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:30

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:27

Search

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

American Bible Society