judge (noun)

The Greek that is translated as “judge” in English is translated in Noongar as birdiyar djonanykarinyang or “boss of testing/judgement” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also judge.

complete verse (Matthew 5:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 5:25:

  • Uma: “‘So also, if anyone brings-charges-about us (incl.) to the sitter/judge, eagerly/hurriedly search for harmony while we (incl.) are still on the road/way to the judge. Because if we (incl.) don’t achieve harmony, he will definitely report us [lit., bring us (incl.) up] to the judge, and the judge will offer/give us (incl.) to the police and the police will put us (incl.) in jail/prison.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘If there is a person accusing you, reconcile with him while you are still on the way to court. Because when you are already there at the court perhaps the judge will order you to be taken by the police and you will be put in prison.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if there is someone who accuses you and takes you to trial, it is good if you can settle it with him before you come in front of the judge. Because if you have to go in front of the judge, the judge might turn you over to the police and you’ll be in prison.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Also if someone takes you (sing.) to court so that they will file-charges-against you (sing.) because of your (sing.) debt, hurry to make-peace-with him while you are still on the path. Because if not, he will turn-you (sing.) -over to the judge, and then the judge will turn-you (sing.) -over to the police so that you (sing.) will be-imprisoned.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, supposing also there is someone who wants to bring a charge against you to the judge, while there’s still time go and initiate-fixing-up with him at once, before he can file (lit. can-cause-to-go-up) that charge of his. For if you don’t do like this, maybe you’ll be defeated. Well isn’t it so that you will be committed by the judge to the guards, for you’ll be put in prison.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When you are accused, concerning the one who is accusing you, make peace with him there on the road so that you will not be delivered over to the judge. Because if you are delivered to the judge, the judge will turn you over to the police. Then the police will take you to jail.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 5:21-26)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 5:21-26:

y´The Bible says, “Don’t murder!” and “Condemn a murderer!”
But I condemn you for being angry and hating someone
       or for calling anyone a worthless nobody —
Do this, and you will be doomed and in danger of hell!

When you kneel to worship God, try to remember —
       Is someone angry with you?
If so, forget about worship, until you run and make peace!

Has someone accused you of doing wrong?
Hurry and settle the matter
       before you are thrown into prison and impoverished.

Translation commentary on Matthew 5:25

This brief parable concerning going before the judge is also found in Luke 12.57-59, though in an entirely different context. Here it warns of the necessity for being quickly reconciled with one’s legal adversary, lest one wind up in jail! Luke places the parable in an eschatological context, with the meaning, just as you would try to settle a case out of court, in the same way, the time to get reconciled with God is now. But several scholars interpret the real focus to be God’s final judgment in Matthew as well, concerning which the disciples are warned of the urgency to be reconciled with their brothers, without which it is impossible to be reconciled with God.

At the first of the verse, Good News Translation includes a clause which places the saying in its proper context: “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court.” Support for Good News Translation‘s restructuring is provided from at least two directions: (1) The noun accuser (Good News Translation “someone [who] brings a lawsuit against you”) represents the injured party in a legal action. (2) The Greek “while you are with him in the way” actually means while you are going with him to court (see also Phillips, New English Bible, New American Bible, and others which specify “to court”). Many translators have found this model of Good News Translation very helpful. Other examples are “If someone is taking you to the judge to accuse you” or “If someone is accusing you of things, while you are going with him to court (or, to the judge)….”

Make friends … with (Good News Translation “settle the dispute”) focuses on the need to resolve the differences with one’s legal adversary before getting to court; New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible have “come to terms with”; New American Bible renders “settle with.” Other translations have said “make an agreement with,” “settle the matter,” or “find a solution to your differences.”

Quickly (Good News Translation “while there is time”) is also translated in a number of ways: New English Bible “promptly”; Jerusalem Bible “in good time”; New American Bible “Lose no time.”

“Once you are there” of Good News Translation provides a necessary transitional in the English structure. A number of other translations use the word “otherwise” (New American Bible, New English Bible, Phillips). Barclay translates “if you do not” (so also Translator’s New Testament). Revised Standard Version has the word lest, which means literally “so that not.” It can also be expressed as “so that your accuser won’t…” or “in order to prevent him from….”

Judge is the preference of most translations for the first of the two officials. But the noun translated guard is more difficult. The primary meaning is “servant, helper, assistant”; but since the reference here is specifically to the servants of the court, Revised Standard Version has guard, and Good News Translation “police.” Moffatt and Translator’s New Testament translate “jailer”; Barclay “court officer”; New Jerusalem Bible “officer.” In 26.58 the reference is to the Temple guards.

In many cultures it seems odd to speak of handing someone over to a judge. Translators have to say “give you to the judge so he can deal with you,” “ask the judge to deal with you,” or “charge you before the judge so he decides your case.”

However, when the judge hands someone over to the guard, that is so that the guard can administer the punishment determined by the judge—in this case, to be put in prison. Thus the translation can have “and the judge will give you to the guard” or “… will tell the guard to take you and put you in prison.”

For guard translators may say “soldier,” “police,” “official,” or whatever term normally designates the person who is responsible to put someone in jail.

A prison or “jail” is well known now in most parts of the world. In some places it may be necessary to say “the building where they guard you and you can’t leave” or “the building where they punish people by making them stay there.”

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 5:25

Paragraph 5:25–26

In 5:25–26 in the Greek text, the pronouns for “you” or “your” are all singular. But the teaching applies to all of Jesus’ followers. So in some languages, it is more natural to use the plural form of “you” here.

5:25a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in 5:25a–b. Compare the Berean Standard Bible with the New Living Translation (2004) and New Century Version below.

25aReconcile quickly with your adversary, 25bwhile you are still on the way to court (Berean Standard Bible)

25bWhen you are on the way to court 25awith your adversary, settle your differences quickly. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

25bIf your enemy is taking you to court, 25abecome friends quickly, 25bbefore you go to court. (New Century Version)

5:25a

Reconcile: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Reconcile means “settle matters” or “make friends.” A believer who has wronged someone must resolve the problem.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Make friends (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Settle matters (New International Version)
-or-
settle the dispute (Good News Translation)
-or-
make peace

quickly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as quickly means “at once, without delay.” In this context, it refers to settling matters before court begins.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

while there is time (Good News Translation)
-or-
immediately
-or-
before you arrive at the court

your adversary: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your adversary refers to the person who is against you. He is the person taking you to court to accuse you before the judge.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

accuser (English Standard Version)
-or-
opponent (God’s Word)
-or-
enemy (New Century Version)
-or-
the one who has accused you of wrong

5:25b

while you are still on the way to court: The Greek text that the Berean Standard Bible translates as while you are still on the way to court is literally “while you are with him on the road.” The Berean Standard Bible has added the words to court. By doing this, the Berean Standard Bible makes it clear that “your adversary” is the one who initiated the court case. Your adversary has accused you of doing something wrong. The two of you are going to court so that the judge can hear your case. This clause does not mean that your enemy is literally carrying or dragging you to court.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

while you are on the way to court with him (God’s Word)
-or-
as he is taking you to where the judge is
-or-
while there is time, before you get to court (Good News Translation)

5:25c

Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Otherwise can also be translated as “so that not” or “lest.”

This clause and 5:25d indicate what will happen if matters are not settled quickly. You may need to translate this clause somewhat differently in order to make it clear. For example:

so that your opponent will not hand you over to the judge
-or-
lest, your accuser hand you over to the judge (English Standard Version)
-or-
If you do not ⌊settle matters quickly⌋, he will hand you over to the judge

hand you over to the judge: The words hand you over refer to putting someone under the power or authority of another. This accuser will bring you before the judge, and the judge will decide how to punish you.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

will deliver/take you to the judge
-or-
will give/bring you to the judge
-or-
will cause you to appear before the judge

5:25d

and the judge may hand you over to the officer: In the Greek, this phrase is literally “and the judge to the officer.” There is an ellipsis here. The words may hand you over are implied from 5:25c.

officer: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as officer refers to a policeman or similar official who fulfills the judge’s orders. He has the authority to put someone in jail or set him free, as the judge tells him to.

Here are some other ways to translate officer:

guard (English Standard Version)
-or-
warden (NET Bible)
-or-
person in charge of prisoners

5:25e

you may be thrown into prison: The verb be thrown is passive. The guard in 5:25d obeys the order of the judge and puts the believer in prison. Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

you will be put in jail (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will be locked up

• Use an active verb. For example:

he will put you in prison

-or-

who will put you in jail (Contemporary English Version)

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