complete verse (Matthew 13:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 13:26:

  • Uma: “That rice indeed grew until heads-appeared, [and] the grass also became visible in the midst of the rice.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then when the seeds were growing and began to bear fruit, the weeds were also seen.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when the good plants sprouted, the bad plants also sprouted.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They two grew until they bore-fruit, then it was recognized that there were weeds that were added-in.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That wheat sprouted. Just as it was fruiting, those poisonous weeds sprouted.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When the wheat was grown, then the heads were produced. Then was seen which were just weeds.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 13:26

Then the weeds appeared also must not be taken to imply that the weeds suddenly shot up after the wheat had matured. The meaning is that the distinction between the weeds and the wheat was not evident until heads of grain began to form on the wheat. A sentence that would make this point clear is “When the plants began to bear grain (or, fruits), at that time people were able to see the weeds, too.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 13:26

13:26a

When the wheat sprouted and bore grain: This clause indicates that the wheat seed sprouted and grew into plants. Then grain began to appear at the top of the stalk.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Later, the wheat sprouted and the heads of grain grew (New Century Version)
-or-
When the plants grew and the heads of grain began to form (Good News Translation)

13:26b

then the weeds also appeared: This clause indicates that people could now see that some plants were weeds. The wheat and the weeds were growing together. When they were young, they looked very similar. But when the wheat plants began to grow heads of grain, this made it clear that not all the plants were wheat. The weeds looked different.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

then they could see that some plants were weeds

-or-

the farmer’s servants could see the weeds (Contemporary English Version)

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