SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023 – Page 91

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:15

13:15

In 13:14, God talks to the people. In 13:15, God talks about them. So the pronouns change from “you” to “they.”

If people in your area think that 13:15 refers to a different group of people, you may want to:

• Add a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

The words in 13:15 are still directed toward the Jews.

• Change the pronouns in 13:14 from “you” to “they” so they are the same as in 13:15. For example:

14b
This people will listen and listen, but not understand; 14cthey will look and look, but not see, (Good News Translation)

13:15a

For: Verse 13:15 is the reason for the people not understanding what they see and hear (13:14). The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Here are some other ways to introduce this reason:

because (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊They will be like that⌋ because

In some languages, the context can imply the connection, and it will not be necessary to translate the conjunction.

this people’s heart has grown callous: The word heart refers to a person’s inner being. It includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. In this context, the word heart probably refers specifically to the mind.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as callous is more literally “thick” or “fat.” People with “thick/fat hearts” are people who understand things slowly. When it comes to spiritual things, they are not mentally sharp. They have become this way because they have deliberately refused to listen to the truth.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Translate it using another expression. For example:

the minds of these people have become slow/closed
-or-
the minds of these people do not work/function well

• Translate the meaning more directly. For example:

These people understand slowly
-or-
These people have difficulty understanding ⌊the truth⌋

this people’s: The phrase this people’s refers to all the Jewish people as a group.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

this people-group’s
-or-
this nation’s

13:15b

they hardly hear with their ears: This clause indicates that the Jews have reached a point where they have difficulty hearing/understanding spiritual truths. This does not indicate that they are physically deaf.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they are hard of hearing (NET Bible)
-or-
they do not hear/understand ⌊God’s truth⌋ well

The phrase with their ears is already included in the meaning of the verb hear. In some languages, it may be more natural not to translate the phrase with their ears (as in the examples above).

13:15c

they have closed their eyes: This clause indicates that the Jews have deliberately closed their eyes to the truth. They refuse to see it.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they refuse to see/understand
-or-
they have closed their eyes ⌊to the truth⌋

13:15d

Otherwise they might see with their eyes: The Greek conjunction the Berean Standard Bible translates as Otherwise expresses negative purpose. It means “in order not to.” These people shut their eyes so that they would not see.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

so that they would not see with their eyes (NET Bible)
-or-
in order not to see/understand
-or-
to avoid using their eyes to see (New Jerusalem Bible)

hear with their ears: The conjunction “otherwise” also applies to this clause. In other words:

and ⌊so that they would not⌋ hear with the ears

The phrase with their ears is already included in the meaning of the verb hear. It may be more natural in your language to leave the phrase with their ears implied.

13:15e

understand with their hearts: The conjunction “otherwise” also applies to this clause. In other words:

and ⌊so that they would not⌋ understand with their heart

As in 13:15a, the word hearts refers to their minds. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

their mind understand (Revised English Bible)

In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate the phrase with their heart. For example:

or understand (Contemporary English Version)

13:15f

and turn: The verb turn here refers to repenting.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

turn to me (Revised English Bible)
-or-
changing their ways (New Jerusalem Bible)

The conjunction “otherwise” from 13:15d also applies to this verb. In other words:

and ⌊so that they would not⌋ turn

In some languages, it will be natural to begin a new sentence here. Here are some ways to do that:

⌊They also did those things so that they would not⌋ turn/repent
-or-

⌊They did not want to⌋ turn ⌊to me⌋

13:15g

and I would heal them: This clause goes together with the verb “turn” in 13:15f.

Here are some ways to translate it:

and ⌊let⌋ me heal them
-or-
for healing (God’s Word)

-or-

and be healed (New Century Version)

The verb heal probably refers to spiritual healing. But it may also refer to physical healing. For that reason, it is best to translate it literally.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:47

Paragraph 13:47–50

The parable of the net in this paragraph has a similar meaning to the parable of the weeds. In both parables, Jesus told us that good and bad people will live together for a while. But in the end, the angels will separate them.

13:47a

Once again: The words Once again introduce another parable about the kingdom of heaven. This same word occurs in 13:45a. You should translate it here as you did there. For example:

Also (Good News Translation)

the kingdom of heaven is like a net: This clause is a simile. It compares the kingdom of heaven/God to a fishing net. The point of similarity in this comparison is that both are spread over a variety of things. A net catches a variety of fish. The message of the kingdom will be preached to a variety of people both good and bad.

net: This net was a large net that fishermen used to catch fish. It required at least two people to use. It had floats along the top and weights along the bottom. They spread the net in the water and then pulled it to the shore or a boat.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

fish net
-or-
dragnet

13:47b

that was cast into the sea: The net was cast so that it spread out before falling into the water. This is the normal way to put this type of net into the water. Be sure not to use a word that implies that the fishermen threw their nets away.

The verb was cast is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

that was let down into the lake (New International Version)
-or-
that was put into the lake (New Century Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

Some fishermen throw their net out in the lake (Good News Translation)

the sea: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sea here is a general word that can also be translated as “lake” (as in the New International Version). The English word “sea” often implies salt water. But the Greek word can refer to a freshwater lake.

caught all kinds of fish: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as caught refers to catching fish. For example:

caught all kinds of fish (New International Version)

-or-

caught many different kinds of fish (New Century Version)

In the parable, this phrase refers to the message of the kingdom being broadcast to both good and bad people.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:21

14:21a–b

About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children: In addition to the five thousand men who ate the food, there were also women and children there who also ate. No one counted the women and children in the crowd. But someone estimated that there were About five thousand men. There were probably as many women and children as men, or perhaps more.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

The number of men who ate was about five thousand, not counting the women and children. (Good News Translation)

-or-

There were about five thousand men who ate the food. They did not count the number of women and children ⌊who also ate⌋.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:47

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:21

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