complete verse (Matthew 2:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 2:22:

  • Uma: “But Yusuf heard that Arkelaus, the son of Herodes had replaced his father becoming king in the land of Yudea. That is why he was afraid to go there. From there, there was also a teaching of the Lord that Yusuf received in his dream. That is why they went to the land of Galilea,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But when Yusup heard that the son of Herod called Alkilas was now king in the place Yahudiya, he was afraid to go there. He was again informed in his dream and told to go to the place/country of Jalil.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Now when Joseph found out that the one who was king in Judea was Archelaus, who had succeeded his father Herod, they passed by the province of Judea because they were afraid. And since God caused Joseph to deam, advising him, they continued on to the province of Galilee.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But-then Jose heard that Arkelaus who was Herod’s child had replaced (the former ruler) to rule in Judea, after-that he was afraid to return. Since there was again that-which-was-instructed to him in his dream, they went to the province Galilea,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But when he’d heard news that Arquelao was the one who had succeeded his father Herodes, he now being the one ruling the district of Judea, he was afraid to return to Betlehem which was there in that district of Judea. Well since he was again caused to dream, as to what would be good for him to do, that’s why Galilea is where they went, that also being a district of Israel.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But he heard that Archelaus was the one who was now ruling over the place he wanted to go to. Because he had taken over the position of his father. So Joseph was afraid to go to that place, the land of Judah where that one was ruling. Again Joseph dreamed and he was told to go to the land of Galilea.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 2:22

But when: this may be “However, when…” or “But he heard that Archelaus reigned … Therefore he was afraid.”

The pronominal subject he is once again identified by Good News Translation: “Joseph.”

Reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod is restructured by Good News Translation to read “succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea.” After Herod’s death the land of Israel was divided into several provinces and placed under the authority of Herod’s sons. Archelaus was given the title of king and ruled over the provinces of Judea, Samaria, and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6. He was a cruel and despotic ruler.

Reigned over may be expressed by a phrase such as “was king of Judea in place of” or “had become king of Judea after his father Herod died.”

It may be necessary to specify that Judea was a province, as in “the region (or, territory) of Judea.”

And being warned in a dream, a participial construction in Greek, is rendered “was given more instructions in a dream” by Good News Translation. The agent of the passive structure being warned would be either the Lord or an angel of the Lord. In light of verses 13, 19, and 20, the meaning most likely intended is “an angel of the Lord gave Joseph more instructions.” Warned translates the same verb used in verse 12. Being warned in a dream can be translated by a passive in some languages, as Good News Translation has done. Another example is “He had a dream and was told what to do.” Other translators will prefer an active construction, as in the above paragraph, where “an angel” is stated explicitly. Perhaps “an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him not to go there.”

Withdrew is generally translated as “went” or “moved.”

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 2:22

Paragraph 2:22–23

2:22a

But: When Joseph returned to Israel, he probably intended to live in Bethlehem in the district of Judea. So there is a contrast between 2:21 and 2:22. The contrast is between Joseph’s original intentions and then his fear of actually going there when he heard that Archelaus was the king of Judea. Joseph probably thought that Archelaus would want to harm Jesus as Herod had wanted to.

Most English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction But, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

Archelaus: The word Archelaus is the name of Herod’s son. When Herod died, Archelaus became king of Judea.

was reigning in Judea: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was reigning refers to ruling as the highest authority/leader over a province.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

was now ruler (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was ruling (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
was the king

in place of his father Herod: The phrase in place of his father Herod means that Archelaus became the king after his father Herod died.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

took his father Herod’s place
-or-
replaced his father Herod
-or-
succeeded his father Herod (Good News Translation)

2:22b

he: The pronoun he refers to Joseph.

was afraid to go there: Joseph was probably afraid that King Archelaus would be as cruel a ruler as his father Herod was. He feared that Archelaus would want to kill Jesus as Herod had.

to go there: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had already returned to Israel. Joseph may have been planning to live in Bethlehem, which was in Judea. In some languages, it may be more natural to include some implied information here. For example:

to go ⌊and stay/live⌋ there

2:22c

having been warned in a dream: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as having been warned is passive. The Greek text does not mention who warned Joseph. It was God acting either directly or through an angel.

Here are some ways to translate this verb:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

being warned in a dream (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Then he was warned in a dream

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ warned him in a dream
-or-
As he was dreaming, ⌊God⌋ told him

warned: Here are some other ways to translate this word:

told/instructed ⌊what to do⌋
-or-
advised ⌊not to go there⌋

This same verb occurs in 2:12.

In some languages, it may be necessary to say what God warned Joseph about. If that is the case in your language, you can say:

warned ⌊him not to go there⌋
-or-
warned ⌊him not to go to Judea⌋

2:22d

withdrew: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as withdrew is the same word translated as “withdrew” in 2:14.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

went (Good News Translation)
-or-
continued

The verb is singular, indicating that Joseph left. But, of course Mary and Jesus went with him. In some languages, it will be more natural to include Mary and Jesus. For example:

went ⌊with Mary and Jesus⌋

to the district of Galilee: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as district refers to a “region” or “province.” Galilee was the name of a province/district of the Roman Empire. It was located in the northern part of what is currently the nation of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the province of Galilee (Good News Translation)

-or-

the region of Galilee (New Jerusalem Bible)

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