SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 90

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:49

12:49a

Pointing to His disciples: This clause describes Jesus’ gesture. Jesus used this gesture to show the crowd that he was talking about his disciples.

The particular gesture Jesus used was to stretch/reach out his arm and hand. He probably moved his arm and hand in an arc with all fingers extended toward his disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this gesture:

Then he pointed to his disciples (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He motioned toward his disciples

In some cultures it is not appropriate to point toward someone with your hand. If that is true in your language, use a physical motion that is natural in this context which causes people to look at something. For example:

He indicated his disciples

12:49b

Here are My mother and My brothers: This clause indicates that Jesus loved his disciples and they had become his family. They were his spiritual family.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

These people are my mother and my ⌊younger⌋ brothers.

-or-

These people have become ⌊like⌋ my mother and my brothers.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:31

Section 13:31–35

Jesus told the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast

In this section, Jesus told two parables: the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast. These parables show something about the growth and size of God’s kingdom.

The parable about the mustard seed shows that God’s kingdom will grow from a very small beginning to a very large size. The size of God’s kingdom represents the number of people in the kingdom.

The parable of the yeast shows that God’s kingdom will spread throughout the world.

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:30–32 and Luke 13:18–21.

Paragraph 13:31–32

13:31a

He put before them another parable: This clause is exactly the same as the clause in 13:24a.

Here are some other ways to translate it:

He told them another parable (New International Version)
-or-
This is another parable he gave them (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Then Jesus told another story (New Century Version)

13:31b–c

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed: This clause is a simile. It compares the kingdom of God to what happens when a mustard seed is planted. The Jewish people considered the mustard seed to be one of their smallest seeds. However, the mustard plant can grow to be a tree as large as three meters high.

The point of similarity in this comparison is the growth from something small to something large. Like the mustard plant, the kingdom of God is very small at its beginning, but it becomes very large.

The comparison is about the whole growth process, not just what the seed is like. One way to make this clear is:

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. (Contemporary English Version)

13:31b

The kingdom of heaven: This phrase last occurred in 13:24b. You should translate it here as you did there.

is like: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is like is very similar to the word translated as “is like” in 13:24b. This phrase introduces a comparison. Here Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

can be compared to
-or-
resembles

a mustard seed: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek phrase literally as a mustard seed. To Jewish people, the mustard seed was a symbol of smallness.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use your word for seed and transliterate the word mustard according to the sounds of your language. For example:

a musutarade seed
-or-
a seed of ⌊the plant/tree called⌋ mutar

• Use a generic phrase. For example:

a tiny seed

• Use the name of a local seed that is known to be very small, but grows into a tree. If you use this option, you may want to indicate the literal name in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

The Greek text is literally “a mustard seed.”

Regardless of the way you translate mustard seed, you may want to add a footnote that explains the significance of mustard seed in the Jewish culture. For example:

For the Jews, the mustard seed was a symbol of something that was very small. But the mustard seed that was planted in the country of the Jews grew into a tree that grew up to three meters high.

13:31c

that a man: Here, the Greek includes a verb that means “picked up in his hand.” In some languages it may be natural to leave this action implicit, as the Berean Standard Bible has done. In other languages, it may be natural to include this action. For example:

that a man took and sowed in his field (English Standard Version)

planted in his field: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as planted is the same word as the word “sowed” throughout the parable of the sower. This word first occurs in 13:3b. Here the man does not sow many seeds. He only sows one. The method of planting is not in focus here. So you may use whatever term is natural in your language for planting this kind of seed in a vegetable garden or field.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:5

14:5a–b

Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people: There is some implicit information here.

Here is the implicit information:

aEven though Herod wanted to kill John, b⌊he did not give orders to kill him at that time, because⌋ he feared the people.
-or-

aHerod wanted to kill John, b⌊but he did not do it at that time, because⌋ he feared the people.

14:5a

Although Herod wanted to kill John: In Greek, this clause is literally “wanting to kill him.” This means that Herod wanted to kill John.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Herod wanted ⌊to order his men⌋ to kill John

14:5b

he was afraid of the people: Herod was afraid that if he killed John, the people would become angry. They might riot or try to remove him from the government. So Herod did not kill John at that time. In some languages, it may be natural to make some of this information explicit. For example:

he was afraid that the people ⌊might rebel⌋
-or-

⌊but he did not kill him at that time, because⌋ he was afraid that the people ⌊might riot⌋

the people: The word people refers to the people that Herod ruled. They were mostly Jewish people, but there were also other kinds of people living in the land he ruled.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

the people ⌊he ruled⌋
-or-
his subjects

14:5c

they regarded John as a prophet: This clause means that the people “believed that” or “considered” John to be a prophet. For example:

they considered John to be a prophet (Good News Translation)
-or-
they thought John was a prophet (God’s Word)

-or-

they believed John was a prophet (New Century Version)

prophet: For help in translating the word prophet, see the note in 1:22.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:1

Section 15:1–20

The deeds that make someone unclean in God’s eyes

Over the years, Jewish religious leaders added many oral rules to God’s written laws. The Pharisees and teachers of the law considered these oral rules (also called traditions) to be as important as God’s written laws. One of their rules was that a person must wash his hands a certain way before he ate food. If a Jew did not follow this rule before he ate, they considered him ceremonially “unclean.” This meant that they did not allow him to worship God in public for a certain amount of time. Jesus made it clear that there was something far more important than how a person washed his hands. The important thing was the condition of his heart.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus Challenges the Pharisees’ Traditions (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity/Cleanliness

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 7:1–23 and Luke 11:37–39.

Paragraph 15:1–9

15:1a

Then: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then indicates that the events of 15:1–20 came after the events of 14:22–36. The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between these two events. These events could have happened the same day, or there could have been several days between them.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

After that
-or-
Later

some: The word some is not in the Greek text but the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions (such as the New International Version and Good News Translation) add the word “some” to indicate that some, but not all, Pharisees came to Jesus.

Pharisees: The word Pharisees refers to men who were members of a particular Jewish religious group. The Pharisees believed that it was necessary to strictly obey all the laws of the Old Testament. It was also very important to them to carefully obey many other religious laws that they added. They also said that other people must obey these laws.

Here are some ways to translate Pharisees:

• Transliterate the word Pharisees according to the sounds of your language and indicate that it refers to a group of people. For example:

Farisi members
-or-
Parise group

• Transliterate the word Pharisees and indicate that it refers to a group of people with certain beliefs. For example:

people belonging to the Farise religious sect/group
-or-
members of the Jewish group called the Farasi

The word Pharisees first occurs in 3:7a.

scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the law of Moses. These men were called scribes because their original work was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, this was no longer their main task.

Here are some ways to translate this term:

teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
teachers of the law (New International Version)
-or-
experts in the law

The word scribe first occurs in 2:4a.

15:1b

came to Jesus from Jerusalem: In some languages, it may be more natural to add another verb here. For example:

came from Jerusalem and went to Jesus
-or-

left/exited Jerusalem and came to Jesus

and asked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as asked introduces a rhetorical question. For that reason, several English versions (such as the Berean Standard Bible) translate this word as asked.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:33

15:33a

The disciples replied: The word replied introduces the disciples’ response to what Jesus had just said. Their response is a question.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

The disciples asked him (Good News Translation)
-or-
the disciples said to him (English Standard Version)

15:33b

Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses an objection. The disciples did not agree with Jesus’ idea. They wanted him to send the people home. They implied that it would be impossible to find enough food in that remote place to feed that large crowd.

Here are some other ways to translate this objection:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Where will we find enough food in this desert to feed this crowd? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

There is certainly no place here in the wilderness where we could find enough food to feed so many people!

• As a statement and a rhetorical question. For example:

This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
How can we get enough bread to feed all these people? We are far away from any town. (New Century Version)

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

in this desolate place: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as desolate place is literally “the desert.” In this context, it refers to an area where no one lived. It was a place that was far from any town or village.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

here in the wilderness (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
in this place where no one lives (God’s Word)

bread: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bread is literally “loaves.” It refers to loaves of bread. These loaves were pieces or units of bread, probably cooked in a round shape like buns or rolls. Bread was the main food of the Jewish people.

Here it is possible to use the more general word “food.” For example:

food (Contemporary English Version)

However, you may need to use a more specific term for “bread” in 15:34a and 15:36.

In Matthew, this word first occurs in 4:3c. It also occurs in 14:17. See how you translated this word there.

to feed such a large crowd: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to feed can also mean “to satisfy, fill.” This same word also occurs in 15:37a where it is translated as “satisfied.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to satisfy such a large crowd (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
to feed all these people (New Century Version)

-or-

to ⌊give⌋ such a crowd ⌊enough food⌋ to satisfy them

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:26

16:26a–b

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize something that everyone should know is true. If someone gets the world’s riches but cannot live forever with God, it is worth nothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a question with the response supplied. For example:

Will you gain anything if you own the whole world but lose your life ⌊with God⌋? Of course not!

• As a statement. For example:

It is worth nothing for them to have the whole world if they lose their souls. (New Century Version)

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

16:26a

The Greek conjunction that begins this verse is left untranslated in the Berean Standard Bible, but many English versions translate it as “For.” It 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 he will not profit from gaining the entire world (16:26).

The only thing of true value is eternal life. Jesus gives eternal life to those who follow him.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Because
-or-
Let me further explain

Some English versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

What will it profit a man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as profit means “benefit,” “help,” or “be of use to.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

what do you benefit (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
What good will it do for people (God’s Word)
-or-
what use/help will it be for a person

a man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man refers to a human being. It does not just refer to a male.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a person (NET Bible)
-or-
people (God’s Word)

he gains the whole world: This phrase refers to owning the entire world and everything in it. This is a hyperbole. It refers to being very successful in earning money and obtaining material things.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

own the whole world (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
possesses/acquires everything in the world
-or-
becomes the richest person in the world

16:26b

forfeits his soul: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as forfeits means “loses.”

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

(1) It refers to a person’s soul. It is the part of a person that lives even after his body dies. So the phrase “forfeits/loses his soul” is a figurative of speech that means “dies spiritually.” It refers to “losing eternal life” or “losing his life in heaven.” For example:

they lose their souls (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

(2) It refers to a person’s life (on earth). So the phrase “forfeits/loses his life” is a figure of speech that means “dies physically.” For example:

lose their lives (God’s Word)

(Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In 16:25, Jesus moved from talking about physical life to talking about spiritual life. Here in 16:26, he continued to talk about spiritual life.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

loses his life ⌊with God⌋
-or-
fails to get ⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
does not get/receive life ⌊that has no end⌋

General Comment on 16:26a–b

In some language, it will be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 16:26a–b. For example:

If a man gains the whole world but loses his own soul, it there any profit in that?
-or-
If a man owns the entire world but does not get eternal life, there is no benefit.

16:26c

Or: Here the word Or introduces a rhetorical question that says something similar to the rhetorical question in 16:25a–b. This rhetorical question is another way to make a similar point as the first one.

Normally the word “or” links two things, and only one of them is correct/preferred. Or the listener is supposed to choose one of them. For example, “Did he go to Jerusalem or Bethlehem?” However, in this verse, Or is not used in that way. The response to both questions is “No” or “Nothing.”

Here is another way to introduce this second rhetorical question:

Or ⌊to say/ask it another way⌋

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

what can a man give in exchange for his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize that nothing can buy true life with God. There is nothing that a person can give to God that would be a fair trade for his life.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

what can a person give in exchange for his life? (NET Bible)

• As a question with the response supplied. For example:

Is there anything that a person can give ⌊to God⌋ so that ⌊God⌋ gives him eternal life in return? ⌊No!⌋

• As a statement. For example:

It is ⌊certainly⌋ impossible for a person to pay ⌊God⌋ enough so that ⌊God⌋ will give him eternal life.

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

give in exchange for his soul: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as give in exchange refers to the way people traded things before there was money. They traded/exchanged one thing for something else of equal value.

Here, Jesus said that nothing has enough value to be an equal trade for eternal life. That is even true if you had all the riches of the world. No one is able to pay enough to buy true life.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there is nothing a person can give in trade for his life ⌊with God⌋
-or-
What can a person trade/exchange to get ⌊eternal⌋ life?

-or-

Can a person pay enough money to buy his life ⌊in heaven⌋?

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:3

18:3a

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some other ways to introduce this:

I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

This clause first occurs in 5:18a. It also occurs in 17:20b. You should translate it here as you did there.

you: In Greek, the pronoun you is plural here. Jesus addressed his disciples, not the child.

18:3b

unless you change: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unless you change can also be translated as “if you do not turn.” Here the verb translated as change is used figuratively. It refers to an inward change of attitude.

Here are some other ways to translate the clause:

if you do not turn
-or-
if you do not change your mind/thinking
-or-
You must change your thinking…. If you do not

and become like little children: This clause is a comparison. Jesus told the disciples that it was necessary for them to become like children in their attitudes and thinking. Jesus meant that they should be humble like children. This idea is made clear in the next verse, so you should not put it here.

18:3c

you will never enter: The Berean Standard Bible translates two Greek words as the single word never. In Greek, this is a double negative. This means that the two words make this negative statement emphatic.

Here are some other ways to translate this double negative:

you will certainly not enter
-or-
you absolutely cannot enter

enter the kingdom of heaven: In this context, the word enter refers to “becoming a citizen of.” When people change their attitudes and follow Jesus, they become citizens/members of the kingdom of heaven.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
-or-
become one of those who are in the kingdom of ⌊the one who lives in⌋ heaven

-or-

be added to those over whom God rules

This same expression occurs in 5:20b. You should translate it the same way in both places.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:35

18:35

In 18:35, Jesus gave the application of his parable. In some languages, it may be natural to make this clearer. For example:

And Jesus concluded (Good News Translation)

Before you translate 18:35, consider what the most natural order for the parts of this verse is in your language. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 18:35b first. For example:

35bIf you do not forgive your brother from your heart, 35amy heavenly Father will do the same thing to every one of you.

18:35a

That is how: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That is how also means “likewise” or “in this manner.” It indicates that the way that God will treat people who do not forgive their brother is similar to what the king in the story did.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

So also (English Standard Version)
-or-
Like that
-or-
In the same way

My heavenly Father: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

my Father in heaven (Good News Translation)
-or-
my Father who is in heaven

This same phrase occurs in 15:13. You should translate it the same way in both places.

will treat each of you: This phrase refers to the way that God the Father will treat people. He will treat them harshly like the king treated the unforgiving servant harshly.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will do to every one of you (English Standard Version)
-or-
will deal with you (Revised English Bible)

18:35b

unless you forgive your brother: In Greek, the pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your is literally “his” (as in the King James Version). But because the final phrase has “your heart,” the Berean Standard Bible (and almost every other English version) translates it as your. You should follow these versions.

from your heart: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as from your heart is an idiom. It means that your forgiveness should be sincere. It should be true forgiveness. Use a word or phrase that best describes that in your language.

Here are some other ways to say this in English:

with all your heart (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

sincerely (God’s Word)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:49

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:31

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 15:33

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 16:26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:35

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