teach

The Greek that is translated as a form of “teach” is translated with some figurative phrases such as “to engrave the mind” (Ngäbere) or “to cause others to imitate” (Huichol). (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Noongar it is translated as karni-waangki or “truth saying” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

complete verse (Matthew 28:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 28:15:

  • Uma: “The soldiers took the money, and they said like what had been taught to them. Until this day, that story is well known to the Yahudi people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The soldiers took the money and did as they were told to. Until this day that is the story that is spread by the Yahudi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the soldiers took the money, and they did what was told them, and still today that which the chief priests told them to tell is what the Jews believe.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So then, the solders took that money and they obeyed what was ordered them. Therefore until today, this is what is being-newsed-from-one-to-another among the Jews.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The soldiers accepted that money and obeyed what had-been-emphatically-told to them. Till today, this is indeed what the Judio tell everyone.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The soldiers took the money which was given to them and said just like the words they were told to say. This word which the soldiers said is the word the Jews say until these very days.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Sung version of Matthew 28

Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).

For more information, see here .

Translation commentary on Matthew 28:15

They is translated “The guards” by Good News Translation, a technique adopted also by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant, and Bijbel in Gewone Taal.

As they were directed (Good News Translation “what they were told to do”) is transformed into a nonpersonal construction by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “as one had told them to do.” One may also translate by supplying the agent of the passive verb: “what the chief priests had told them to do.”

This story has been spread among the Jews to this day refers to the events of verses 11b-14. One must avoid the implication that this story includes as well the information that the soldiers took the money and did as they were told (verse 15a). In some cases it is helpful to say “this story about Jesus’ disciples stealing his body” or “this story they told.”

Spread is the same verb used in 9.31.

Among the Jews: Revised Standard Version translates the Greek prepositional phrase as indicating location, but it may also carry the meaning of instrument (Good News Translation “by the Jews”); in the final analysis the meaning is the same.

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 .