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 .
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