younger brother (Lama)

The Greek that is translated as “brother” in English in the referenced verses is translated in Lama as rɨtafal or “younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)

complete verse (Matthew 22:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 22:26:

  • Uma: “Before they had a chance to have children, that younger sibling died too. And it kept on happening like that to the third one down to the seventh one.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He died and he also didn’t have children. Likewise the one below him. The seven brothers married the widow in turn and they died without having children.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Now long ago there were here seven brothers. The older got married, but he died and he had no children. And his younger brother married his wife. And the younger brother died also without children. And the younger brother of this one married the widow also. And he did the same also, he died without children. And each of these did just the same. The younger brothers of the first one each married their sister-in-law, but they all died, these brothers, without having any children.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “but he died without their also having any children. So also with the third. Then so-on-and-so-forth until the seventh.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But that one who succeeded was like that too. Like that too was the third until all seven were used up.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But he also dies and there were no children. The widow continues to be married when her husbands die until all seven brothers have died.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 22:26

As may be gathered from a reading of Revised Standard Version, the Greek text of this verse leaves the verb implicit. But some readers may find themselves confused with such an abbreviated presentation. In this respect Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is helpful: “Therefore the second married the widow, but he also died childless; and with the third one there was no difference. So it happened with all seven.” New English Bible is clear and to the point: “The same thing happened with the second, and the third, and so on with all seven.”

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 22:26



22:26a

So too the second and third: This clause is a short way of saying that the second and third brothers married the same woman, and before they had any children, they also died. If necessary you may include the implicit information to make it clear. For example:

Then the second brother also died without children. The third brother married her and the same thing happened to him.

22:26b

down to the seventh: This is a short way of saying that all seven brothers married the woman and didn’t have any children before they died.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

This continued with all seven of them. (New Living Translation (2004))

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