birds of the air

The Greek and Hebrew phrases that are often translated as “birds of the air” in English “refer to the undomesticated song birds or wild birds, to be distinguished in a number of languages from domesticated fowl. In Tzeltal these former are ‘field birds’.” (source: Bratcher / Nida)

Q’anjob’al also uses an established term for non-domesticated birds. Newberry and Kittie Cox (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ) explain: “Qʼanjobʼal has two distinct terms, one to identify domesticated birds and the other non-domesticated birds. The additional descriptive phrase ‘of the air’ seemed entirely misleading, for Qʼanjobʼal speakers had never heard of such creatures. Actually, of course, all that was necessary was the term for non-domesticated birds, for that is precisely the meaning of the Biblical expression.”

In Elhomwe they are just translated as “birds” or “birds of the bush” (i.e., wild birds) to “not give the impression that these are special type of birds.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also birds of the air / fish of the sea and birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

greatest of all shrubs

The Greek that is translated as “the greatest of all shrubs” or similar in English is translated in Chuj as “larger than all the plants we plant each year,” and in Shuar as “larger than all weeds” (Some “weeds” grow to over ten feet.) (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

small quantities

In Gbaya, the notion of small quantities (often in relation to divisions) or something very small (such as a mustard seed) is emphasized in the referenced verses with the ideophone kɛ̧́ɛ̧́.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (Matthew 13:32)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 13:32:

  • Uma: “That seed was very tiny, smaller than other seeds. But when it grew, it was bigger than the other vegetables. It grew like a tree, with the result that birds came and made their nests in its branches.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This seed is very small but when it grows, it becomes bigger than all plants and becomes a tree. Therefore the birds can go and make their nests on it’s branches.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “A person plants this in his field, and when it sprouts and gets big, it becomes the largest of the vegetable plants. It’s like a tree and the birds can light in it and can build their nests in its branches.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows and matures, this is the largest of all plants, whose size is like a tree, and it is possible for birds to make-nests in its branches.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It really is the smallest seed of all plants, but when it has been-planted/taken-root, on sprouting it grows bigger than all other vegetables, and becomes a tree. Without anything further, its branches will then be nested in by birds.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This seed truly is the smallest of all the other seeds. But when it grows, then it is a larger plant than all the other plants in the plant garden. There in its branches birds make nests.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Daniel 4:12 and Daniel 4:21.

Translation commentary on Matthew 13:32

It is the smallest of all seeds is translated “There is no smaller seed” by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. Although the mustard seed is not actually the smallest of all seeds, some commentators note that the mustard seed was used in a proverb common among Jewish teachers to denote the smallest thing or the smallest amount possible. In Jesus’ time mustard was cultivated both for its seed and as a vegetable. Translators need to be sure it is clear that the text is referring to mustard seeds in general, not to the specific seed the man sows in the parable. Hence some translations will say “the seed of a mustard plant is the smallest of any kind of seed.”

But when it has grown draws the contrast between the small seed and the large plant which it produces upon maturity. No concern is given to the process or growth. In languages where it is not seeds that grow, it may be necessary to say “But when the plant has grown.”

Shrubs (Good News Translation “plants,” New English Bible “garden-plant”) refers to edible garden plants, that is, vegetables. If a language has a general word for “plants” that can be used for shrubs, that is best. However, “bushes” or “plants people grow (for food)” are other possibilities. Each language divides the various sizes and types of plants into categories differently, rarely corresponding to English categories of “bush,” “shrub,” and “tree.” Translators will have to use whatever term from their language seems to be most appropriate.

When fully grown, the mustard plant becomes a tree of eight to twelve feet in height. Birds of the air (better “birds”; see comment at 6.26) are attracted to the mustard tree because of it shade and its fruit, though they do not normally nest in it. Commentators note that the reference to a huge tree in which birds come to roost is used symbolically in the Scriptures of a powerful kingdom which protects its dependent states (see Ezek 17.23; 31.6; Dan 4.20-22). In apocalyptic literature and in the writings of Jewish teachers, birds sometimes represent Gentiles who come to seek refuge with Israel.

There are languages that have no word for tree in general, naming instead each particular species. In that case translators should pick some local tree that is about the same height and say “grows to be like __________,” using the name of the local tree.

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 .