truly truly - I tell you

The Greek that is often translated in English as “truly, truly, I tell you” or similar is translated in the Russian BTI translation (publ. 2015) as Поверьте Мне (Pover’te Mne) or “trust me.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Amen.

complete verse (Matthew 5:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 5:26:

  • Uma: “Really-really I say: we (incl.) will not be released/freed from in the prison until we (incl.) have finished paying our (incl.) fine. [lit., if we (incl.) have not yet finished paying our (incl.) fine.]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Truly I tell you, that you will not get out from there as long as you have not payed (lit. wiped out) all that you were fined. It will not even be reduced one centavo.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And without a doubt you’ll have to stay there until you can pay your fine.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This that I tell you (sing.) is true, that you (sing.) will not be able-to-come-out of the jail until you (sing.) have paid all your (sing.) debt.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This is really true which I will say to you, that you have no getting-out of there as long as you haven’t been able to pay-in-full all that the judge fined/sentenced you.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Truly I tell you that you will not come out of the jail, not until you have paid all the money which was determined against you.” (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 5:26

Truly, I say to you (Good News Translation “I tell you”) translates a strong emphatic statement similar in impact to “For truly, I say to you” of verse 18.

Penny is the rendering of most translations. The name of the coin in Greek represents a Latin loan word. According to Mark 12.42, this coin has the value of the two coins given by the widow. The Lukan parable (12.59) uses the name of one of the coins given by the widow in Mark 12.42.

Many translations will use the least valuable coin or piece of money used in their country today. However, the expression last penny means “all that must be paid before you can be set free.” Some translations have thought this referred to paying off the debt you owed your accuser, but it is more likely that it means “paid off all the money the judge fined you (or, said you must pay).”

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 5:26

5:26a

Truly I tell you: The clause Truly I tell you is the same clause as in 5:18a except here the pronoun you is singular.

5:26b

you will not get out: This clause refers to leaving prison.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

you will not leave there (New Century Version)
-or-
you surely won’t be free again (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
There you will stay (Good News Translation)

until you have paid the last penny: The word until indicates that before you can leave jail, you will be required to pay the whole amount. The money may either be a debt owed to the adversary of 5:25 or a fine by the judge for the wrong you have done to the adversary. If possible, you should translate this phrase in a general way that can refer to both.

the last penny: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as penny refers to a coin that was one of the least valuable coins used at that time. The words the last penny indicate that the whole amount must be paid.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Use a general term for the smallest amount of money. For example:

the smallest coin
-or-
the least valuable bill

• Use the term for the smallest amount of money in your language, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

• Translate without using a term for money. For example:

until you have paid everything you owe (New Century Version)

-or-

until you have paid every last bit you owe

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