Translation commentary on Matthew 13:36

He left: Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch identify he as Jesus, since this verse opens a new section in the Gospel.

Left the crowds may be “went away from where the crowd was” or “left that place where the crowds were.”

Into the house (Good News Translation “indoors”) translates a Greek construction which may mean “in his house” (New American Bible “he went home”). The house referred to is the one in Capernaum (see 8.14; 9.10).

It may not be possible to say he went into the house without indicating first where he went, as in “He left the crowds and went to his house. He went in, and….”

It will be difficult to say the house in many languages unless it is clear which house is being referred to. Thus “his house” or “the house where he was staying” may be necessary.

And is simply a word to show the continuity of the story.

His disciples came to him implies that they had gone into the house with Jesus, and it may be necessary to indicate this explicitly in translation; for example, “When Jesus and his disciples had left the crowd and had gone indoors, his disciples came to him…” or “Jesus left the crowd and went indoors. His disciples went with him, and when they were inside alone, they came to him and said….”

Came may have to be “went.”

Explain (so also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible) is translated “Tell … what … means” by Good News Translation. Elsewhere in the New Testament this verb is found only in 18.31.

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 13:36

Section 13:36–43

Jesus explained the parable of the weeds

In this section, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable of the weeds to his disciples. This parable shows God’s patience. Jesus announced that the kingdom of God had come, but not everyone accepted his message. However, God does not immediately destroy them. He permits people who do not follow him to live on the earth together with his people. They will live together until the day that God judges people. He will then separate them, bringing his people into heaven and throwing nonbelievers into hell.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The meaning of the weeds in the wheat
-or-
Jesus explains the meaning of the weeds to his disciples

This passage occurs only in Matthew.

Paragraph 13:36–43

13:36a

Then Jesus dismissed the crowds: According to 13:2b, Jesus had been in a boat talking to the people by the lake of Galilee. When he finished talking to the people, he left them and went back to his house.

and went into the house: This house is likely the house in Capernaum where Jesus was staying at that time (8:14, 9:10). It was the house he left in 13:1a.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

went into the house ⌊where he was staying⌋
-or-
returned to his house and entered it

13:36b

His disciples came to Him: The phrase came to Him indicates that the disciples approached Jesus. This implies that they had returned to the house with Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

his disciples approached him (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
his disciples followed him

13:36c

Explain to us: This command is used as a polite request. Use a natural way to express a polite request in your language. For example:

⌊Master/Lord,⌋ could you tell us
-or-
Please explain to us

the parable of the weeds in the field: This was the parable that Jesus told in 13:24–30.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the parable of the weeds ⌊among the wheat⌋ in the field

-or-

⌊the meaning of⌋ the parable/story of the weeds ⌊that you told the people⌋

© 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.