The Parable of the Sower

The parable of The Parable of the Sower is illustrated for use in Bible translations in West Africa by Wycliffe Cameroon like this:

Illustration 1999 Mbaji Bawe Ernest, © Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Used with permission.

The following artwork is part of a series of 56 paintings on biblical themes by Kazakh artist Nelly Bube (born 1949):

Copyright by Norwegian Bible Society , used with permission.

For other images of Nelly Bube in TIPs, see here.

he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (Matthew 13:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 13:9:

  • Uma: “Whoever of you have ears, listen well!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Amey-amey listen when something is said to you.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘This you have heard, understand it.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus concluded saying, ‘You who are listening, think-about what you have heard.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus added on, saying, ‘Well since what ears are for is listening, it’s necessary that you listen well to this which I am saying.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And now have your ears listen to what I say,’ he said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 13:9

This verse repeats 11.15 word for word.

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 13:9

13:9

The saying in this verse also occurs in Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9, Mark 4:23, Luke 8:8, Luke 14:35. You should translate all these passages in the same way.

He who has ears, let him hear: These words are a saying that Jesus used to command or urge the crowd to carefully think about the words that they had just heard. This saying assumes that everyone in the crowd had ears and were able to hear. So it is addressed to all the people who were listening to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this saying:

• Use “they” or “you” instead of He. For example:

⌊All⌋ those who have ears, let them hear.
-or-

⌊All of⌋ you who have ears, hear/listen.

• Use a different type of clause. In some languages it may be more natural to use an “if” clause or a reason clause. For example:

If/Since you have ears, then pay attention.

• In some languages, it may be more natural to refer to the event of hearing instead of the fact of having ears. For example:

You people who can hear me, listen. (New Century Version)
-or-
Anyone who can hear, think about that parable.

let him hear: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as let him hear is a command in the third person. It does not express permission. For example:

Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!
-or-
You people who can hear me, listen (New Century Version)

In some languages it may be necessary to supply some information and say what the listener should be listening to. For example:

let him listen ⌊to me⌋
-or-
he should hear ⌊my words⌋

-or-

he must listen ⌊to what I say⌋

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