Translation commentary on Matthew 4:9

In the clause and he said to him, the pronoun he refers to the Devil (see Good News Translation). Many translations will find it better for their readers, too, if they say “The Devil said to him.”

All these, emphatic in the Greek text, may be translated collectively as in Good News Translation: (“All this”); Moffatt has “all that,” and Phillips “everything there.” Since the plural form “all these” is purely stylistic, having no theological significance, one should then choose the structure which best suits the receptor language. In the Lukan parallel (4.6) a different construction is used: “all this authority and all their glory.” Other ways to express this may be “all these countries” or “all you can see.”

The phrase All these is given emphasis by its placement before the subject. The Devil is claiming he controls and can give to Jesus all the countries on earth. Many translations will not be able to use this Revised Standard Version order, but they should nevertheless try to retain the emphasis that is there. Sentences such as “What you see, I will give it all to you” or “I will give to you all these things here” may carry the correct emphasis in some languages. Translators can also say “You can have all this that you see.”

The meaning of fall down is not to fall accidentally, but rather to “bow down low to the ground,” or “prostrate yourself,” or “kneel down” for worship or to show great respect. See comments on 2.11.

For comments on worship, see 2.11. Here what the devil is asking is that Jesus “acknowledge me as your master (or, God)” or “respect me in the way you do God.”

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 4:9

4:9

“All this I will give You,” he said: The Berean Standard Bible places the words he said in the middle of what the devil said. This is good English style. However, in some languages it may be more natural to put these words at the beginning of 4:9. For example:

And he said to him, “All these I will give you…” (English Standard Version)

All this I will give You: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates All this refers to “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (4:8b).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

All those/these ⌊countries/things⌋ I will give to you
-or-
I will give to you all that you can see

if You will fall down: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fall down refers to showing great respect by getting close to the ground. This can be done by bowing or kneeling. This word does not mean to accidentally fall down.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

bow down (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
kneel down (Good News Translation)

This same word occurs in 2:11c.

and worship me: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship is literally “prostrate before.” It usually involved kneeling and putting one’s face to the ground. This was done before God and also kings to show great honor and submission.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and/to honor me
-or-
and submit to me

-or-

and show me respect

See the note on worship in 2:2c for more information on this same word.

General Comment on 4:9

In some languages, it may be more natural to have the “if” clause first. For example:

The devil said, “If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things.” (New Century Version)

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