superlative (Matt 22:36; 39)

Since there is no grammatical superlative in Fuyug, the question that is translated in English typically as “which commandment of the law is the greatest,” becomes “in the middle of the word of God, which word is big?” Then the second most important commandment is “the big word that follows.”

teacher

The Greek that is translated as “teacher” (also: “master”) in English is translated in the 1941 Yiddish by Einspruch as rebe (רֶבּי) or “Rabbi” in an effort to identify Jesus as a teacher of the Jews. (Source: Naomi Seidmann in Elliott / Boer 2012, p. 151ff.)

Likewise, a number of Hebrew translations, including the 2018 and 2020 editions by the The Bible Society in Israel also use “Rabbi” (רַבִּי).

See also rabbi.

complete verse (Matthew 22:36)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 22:36:

  • Uma: “‘Teacher, of all the commands in the Law of the Lord, which command is the greatest?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘Sir,’ he said, ‘in the law, which command is the greatest of all?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what is the greatest command in the law?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He said, ‘Sir teacher, what is the most-important command in God’s law?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘Teacher, which of the laws is the most important of all those laws?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “‘Listen, teacher, concerning the words written in the law of God, which word does God consider more important that people do?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

law

The Greek, Hebrew, and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Yucateco the phrase that is used for “law” is “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198) and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

In a 1922 translation into Chagatai, a precursor language of both Uzbek and Uighur, it is translated with the Arabic loan word shari’at (شريعت), originally meaning “(Islamic) law (Shari’a).” (Source: F. Erbay and F.N. Küçükballı in Acta Theologica 2025 45/2, p. 133ff. )

See also teaching / law (of God) (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Matthew 22:36

Teacher is the same noun of address used of Jesus in verses 16 and 24.

Which is the great commandment in the law? is a literal rendering of the Greek text, except that in Greek the verb is is unexpressed because it is not required by the rules of Greek grammar. In place of great, many languages will prefer the superlative form “greatest” (Good News Translation). Mark frames the question somewhat differently: “Which commandment is the first of all?” (12.28). But Matthew is concerned with the role of the Jewish Law for the Christian community, and this is what has determined the manner in which he introduces the question. Note also verse 38.

Great commandment can be rendered fairly literally in many languages, but in others “most important commandment” is more natural.

For comments on the law, see 5.17.

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 22:36



22:36

Teacher: Here, the word Teacher refers to a religious teacher. It was a polite title for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. Use a title that is an appropriate way to address a religious teacher in your culture. It should not refer only to a school teacher.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Sir
-or-
Master

This same form of address is in 22:16b.

In some languages it might make it clearer to include what’s called a speech margin here. For example,

⌊He said,⌋ “Teacher,

which is the great commandment in the Law: The phrase the great commandment indicates the one which surpasses all the others in importance. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the most important commandment
-or-
the commandment which surpasses all the others

in the Law: The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as Law, in this context, refers to the law of Moses. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the law of Moses (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

in Moses’ Teachings (God’s Word)

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