SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 19:18



19:18a

Which ones?: Some words are implied but not repeated here. The complete question would be:

Which commandments should I keep?

The Jews of that time counted 613 commandments in the five books of Moses. The young man’s question was about which of those commandments he was required to keep.

Here is another way to translate this question:

Which? (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Which commands? (New Century Version)

19:18b–19a

These commands are a quote from the Old Testament (either Exodus 20:12–16 or Deuteronomy 5:16–20). (But they are not in the same order as in those passages.) You may want to add a footnote with these references in your translation.

In Greek, these commands are singular. But it is a command to each person. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural or another form. For example:

You (plur.) must not murder
-or-
A person must not murder

19:18b

Do not murder: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as murder means “kill illegally and on purpose.”

This verb, and the next three, are in the future tense. But together with the word not they form negative commands.

Here are some other ways to translate this commandment:

You shall not kill (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Do not commit murder (Good News Translation)

This word also occurs in 5:21b and 15:19b.

do not commit adultery: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as adultery means “have sexual relations with a woman who is married to another man.”

Here are some other ways to translate this commandment:

Do not have sexual relations with another man’s wife
-or-
Do not take another man’s wife to bed with you
-or-
Do not sleep with a married woman

See how you translated this word in 5:27b and 15:19c.

19:18c

do not steal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as steal means “secretly take the property of someone else without permission.”

Here is another way to translate this commandment:

do not take what is not yours

See how you translated this word in 6:19c and 15:19d.

do not bear false witness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bear false witness means “testify something about a person which is not true.”

Here are some other ways to translate this command:

you must not tell lies about your neighbor (New Century Version)

-or-

do not accuse anyone falsely (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this word in 15:19d.

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