complete verse (Matthew 21:44)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 21:44:

  • Uma: “[[Like a pot that falls on stones breaks, and a pot that is caught-under a [falling] rock is smashed, like that also will be [what happens to] the people who reject me.]]'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “(Isa said also, ‘All who fall on this stone their bodies will be smashed to pieces. And whoever this stone falls onto, will be crushed.’)” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And that stone, which is to say, the chosen king, if a person falls on it, the one who falls on it will be thoroughly broken. But if there is a person on whom this stone falls, his body will be thoroughly powdered.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whoever also falls on this stone, he will be broken-into-small-pieces, and whoever it strikes will be broken-in-bits (different word) like dust.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Try-to-understand this. Each one who falls/drops onto this support rock certainly will break up. But the one this rock falls on will really be pulverized.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The person who falls on this stone will be broken. The person on whom the stone falls will be crushed.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

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.

Translation commentary on Matthew 21:44

There is considerable degree of doubt concerning the presence of this verse in the text. A number of scholars believe it to have been introduced early into Matthew’s text on the basis of Luke 20.18. However, as TC-GNT indicates, the wording is not the same, and a scribe would more appropriately have introduced it after verse 42. On the other hand it is easy to see how a scribe’s eye could have glanced over the verse, since in Greek the last word of verse 43 is similar to the last word of verse 44. It is included in New International Version, Moffatt, An American Translation, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, though New International Version and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible provide footnotes concerning the textual problem. New American Bible and Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1st edition place it in brackets, without a footnote; in Luther 1984 it is placed in brackets followed by a footnote indicating its absence from some ancient manuscripts. Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible place it in the margin with a footnote. At least one scholar suggests that the background for the reference is Daniel 2.44-45 and Isaiah 8.14, and he concludes that the verse was not brought in from Luke but represents an original part of the Matthean text. If it is not included as part of the text, it should be listed in a footnote.

If the verse is included as a part of the translation, it should be clear that this stone refers back to the stone mentioned in verse 42. Moreover, will be broken to pieces should not be interpreted as punishment for falling on the stone, but as a description of what happens when one falls on the stone: “Whoever falls on this stone will be cut to pieces by the stone.” The verb broken to pieces is found elsewhere in the New Testament only in Luke 20.18; the root meaning is “crush (together)” or “dash to pieces.” New American Bible renders “smashed to bits,” and Good News Translation has “cut to pieces.”

Crush translates a verb which means “winnow” or “crush”; elsewhere in the New Testament it is found only in Luke 20.18. If crush does not give the idea of death, then “crush to death” or “kill” can be used.

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 .