complete verse (Matthew 26:60)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 26:60:

  • Uma: “But even though there were many false witnesses that said what Yesus had done, they couldn’t find anything worth of killing him for. In the end there were two witnesses who came in front of the judges [lit., sitters] that said the same thing,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But they didn’t find anything to accuse him of even though many witnessed which was not true/gave false witness. Finally two spoke, they said,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But even though many testifying telling-lies about him, they found nothing that would suffice as a basis-for-condemning him. After a fairly-long-time, there were two who went to the front” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But they weren’t finding any, even though many had in fact given-evidence, for what they were each telling concerning Jesus differed. After a long time, there were two people who told,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But they couldn’t find how to arrange this even though many people spoke lies to accuse Jesus. But afterwards again two people came to accuse him.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 26:60

In Greek they found none is more literally “they did not find”; however, most languages will require the express inclusion of an object (New English Bible “they failed to find one”). The translation should not say “they couldn’t find anyone.” They did find plenty of people who would lie, but they couldn’t find the kind of evidence they were looking for. “They couldn’t find anything” is a common translation. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch entirely restructures: “but this did not happen.”

“Even though many people came forward and told lies about him” of Good News Translation translates a Greek participial construction: though many false witnesses came forward. Since verse 59 specifically indicates that they were actually seeking testimony that was “false,” that word need not be repeated: “even though a series of witnesses came forward” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). It is often helpful to restructure this verse by saying “but even though many people appeared before the Council and told lies about Jesus, they didn’t say things that gave the Council reasons to have Jesus put to death.”

Came forward is used fifty-one times in Matthew’s Gospel (first in 4.3), twice with Jesus as subject (at the Transfiguration, 17.7, and in the giving of the Great Commission, 28.18). In both occurrences in this verse, “appeared before the Council” or “went to give testimony” will express the meaning.

Matthew specifically indicates the number of witnesses: two. This is important inasmuch as it was necessary to have two witnesses whose testimony agreed, in order to convict someone on serious charges.

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 .