Translation commentary on Matthew 4:24

So indicates that as a result of what he is described as doing in verse 23, his fame spread. Some translations, for example Good News Translation, indicate the link by the structure and do not need a specific word or phrase to mark this relation. Others say “As a result” or “Consequently.”

The text says his fame spread, that is, “his reputation spread,” “news about him spread” (as in Good News Translation), or “people began to hear (or, talk) about him more and more.”

Syria probably denotes the region north of Galilee, although in the first century it was sometimes used of Palestine|fig:Map_Palestine-Jesus.jpg as well. In the New Testament “Syria” usually denotes the Roman province of that name, which included Palestine|fig:Map_Palestine-Jesus.jpg (Luke 2.2; Acts 15.23, 41; Gal 1.21, etc.), but it probably means here the area to the north of and bordering on Galilee, that is, “Syria” according to the Jewish usage. To the Jew, this “true Syria” did not include Phoenicia.

Translators can say “through the whole province of Syria” or “from there and into the province of Syria as well.” They can then put a footnote to explain more precisely the relation of Syria to Galilee.

In Greek the subject of the verb brought is they, for which Good News Translation has substituted “people” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses a German idiom: “one brought”). It may be necessary to indicate that brought means “brought so he would heal them” or “brought to him for healing.”

Matthew mentions a lengthy list of illnesses and sufferings, to make certain that the healing aspect of Jesus’ ministry is not underestimated. As Good News Translation‘s restructuring suggests, the word sick is a general term, qualified by the five disorders that follow. Diseases translates the first noun discussed in verse 23. Pains (Good News Translation “disorders”) is a word most frequently used of severe pain or torture; here it refers to some sort of physical disorder. New American Bible renders “racked with pain,” as does New English Bible. New Jerusalem Bible translates “painful complaints of one kind or another.” In the New Testament the word is used elsewhere only in Luke 16.23, 28.

It is not always possible to have words that correspond exactly to sick, diseases, and pains. But that is not really too important as long as a way can be found to cover every kind of physical suffering: “people brought to him all the people who were sick or in pain” or “all who were suffering from sickness and physical ailments (or, disorders).”

Demoniacs refers, of course, to people who were demon possessed. Languages have different ways of speaking of demoniacs, that is, people who are possessed by demons or evil spirits. Some speak of “being in the power of an evil spirit” or “having an evil spirit on (or, in) one.” For “evil spirit” see comments on Matthew 4.1. It would be wrong to insert a modern or a medical point of view and say “insane people.”

Epileptics has the root meaning of “moonstruck,” which New American Bible renders “lunatics.” But in modern English “lunatics” is used exclusively of insane people, who in the Gospels would be the demon possessed. Elsewhere in the New Testament this word appears only in Matthew 17.15, where it also refers to epilepsy. The footnote of Jerusalem Bible is misleading: “Lit. ‘moon-struck, lunatic’ (cf. 17.15).”

Epilepsy is a widespread disorder, although it is not well understood. For example, in many societies epileptics are considered to be suffering from some spirit possession. If there is a specific name for this disorder in a language, it should be used; otherwise translations can say “people who had a kind of nervous disorder” or “people with a disorder which caused them to have fits.”

Paralytics can be translated as “people who were paralyzed” (see New English Bible, New American Bible), “people who could not walk,” or “people who could not move their legs.”

People with all these ailments were brought to Jesus, and he healed them, that is, “he cured all their diseases” or “he cured all the people of those diseases and ailments.”

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 4:24

4:24

The Greek of 4:24 begins with a word that is often translated as “and” or “so” (English Standard Version). This word indicates that verse 4:24 is the result of 4:23d. Jesus was healing every disease and sickness among the people in Galilee (4:23d), so as a result of that, news of his healing spread to all of Syria, and the people from there brought their sick people to Jesus (4:24).

Here are some other ways to show this connection:

Consequently
-or-
As a result
-or-
Because of this

Some English versions leave the connection implicit, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

4:24a

News about Him: The phrase News about Him refers to the news about the miracles of healing that Jesus did.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

his fame (English Standard Version)
-or-
a report about him (NET Bible)
-or-
His reputation (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

spread all over Syria: The word Syria is the name of another district/province like Judea and Galilee. Jesus was traveling throughout Galilee, and even people in the neighboring district of Syria heard about his miracles.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

spread all over Syria (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
became known in the entire ⌊province/district⌋ of Syria

4:24b

people brought to Him: The clause people brought to Him means “people brought their sick to him/Jesus.” Another way to translate this clause is to use a passive. For example:

24c–gall those who were ill with various diseases…24bwere brought to him

4:24c

all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain: In this clause, the word ill is a very general term that includes all those who were not well or who had a physical problem. The terms with various diseases and those suffering acute pain are two categories of people who were sick.

Here is one way to translate this clause:

all the people who were sick and were suffering from different diseases and pains

Different cultures categorize sicknesses, diseases, and physical problems in different ways. So you should translate the clauses in 4:24c using terms and categories that are natural in your language to refer to sick people.

Here are some other ways to translate these clauses:

people who had various diseases, people who had pain
-or-
sick people, and people who were suffering from pain
-or-
people with every kind of illness
-or-
people who were not well

all who were ill with various diseases: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all who were ill with various diseases indicates that one person was suffering from one type of disease, another person was suffering from a different type of disease. It does not mean that each person had several types of diseases.

4:24d

the demon-possessed: The phrase the demon-possessed refers to people who were controlled by demons. Demons controlled the thoughts and actions of these people.

Languages have different ways to refer to possession by demons or evil spirits.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Some of them had a lot of demons in them (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
people controlled by demons
-or-
people on whom evil spirits had fastened

demon: The word demon refers to a spirit being who was once an angel, but who rebelled against God. A demon is also referred to as “evil spirit.” A demon is not the spirit of a dead person.

Here are some other ways to translate demon:

• Use a general term in your language that refers to a spirit that is evil and can control people. For example:

a demon
-or-
a devil

• Use a specific term in your language that refers to a certain type of spirit. Do not use a term that refers to the spirit of a dead person.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

an evil spirit

See demon in the Glossary for more information.

4:24e

those having seizures: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those having seizures refers to people who have epilepsy. A person who has an attack of epilepsy has a seizure. During the seizure, this person suffers various things. He loses consciousness, he falls down and may injure himself, and his body stiffens and begins to shake violently. After a while, the person stops shaking and regains consciousness.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

people who have spasms
-or-
epileptics (English Standard Version)
-or-
people who faint and shake/tremble violently

4:24f

and the paralyzed: The word paralyzed refers in general to people whose legs are paralyzed. They cannot walk. It can also refer to people who cannot move some other part their bodies.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

people who are crippled/lame
-or-
others could not walk (Contemporary English Version)

4:24g

and He healed them: The word healed is the same word as in 4:23d.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

he cured them
-or-
he made them well

-or-

he caused them to be healthy again

In some cultures, paralyzed people are not considered to be sick. So it is not possible to use the verb healed to describe what Jesus did to all the people. It may be necessary to use two or more verbs here. For example:

he healed the sick and made the others well

Jesus healed miraculously through God’s power. If people in your area will think that Jesus only healed as a doctor does, you may want to include some implied information. For example:

he ⌊miraculously⌋ healed them

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