complete verse (Matthew 5:41)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 5:41:

  • Uma: “If a soldier forces us (incl.) to carry-on-your-shoulders his load for the distance of one kilometer, just carry his load for the distance of two kilometers.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If a person forces you to carry what-he-is-carrying one kilometer, carry it two kilometers.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is a soldier who forces us to carry what he is carrying for a kilometer, let’s carry it for two kilometers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And if someone forces you (sing.) to carry-his load -on-your-(sing.)-back-with-shoulder-straps for one kilometer, go ahead and (lit. even-if) you (sing.) carry it for two.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, also if you are forced by a soldier to carry his baggage for one kilumitru, it would be good if you go as far as two kilumitru.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If someone says to you that you help him by carrying a load for a kilometer and a half, then you double the distance he says you are to help him.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

distance (long / wide / high)

The concepts of distance that are translated in English with “long,” “wide,” and “high/tall” are translated in Kwere with one word: utali. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 5:38-42)

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 5:38-42:

You know the Bible teaches revenge: “Eye for eye … tooth for tooth!”
But I tell you not to even think about getting even!
       If slapped on one cheek, offer the other.
       If sued for your shirt, offer your coat as well.
       If oppressed, offer to do more than is required.
       If asked for a loan, offer whatever you have.

Translation commentary on Matthew 5:41

Any one is translated “one of the occupation troops” by Good News Translation. The basis for this rendering is the verb forces, which in Greek is a technical term used of pressing into service, whether military or civil. Elsewhere in the New Testament the verb is used only of Simon from Cyrene, whom the Roman soldiers forced to carry Jesus’ cross to the place of execution (27.32; Mark 15.21). Most translations use forces, but others attempt to reflect the cultural situation: Jerusalem Bible (“And if anyone orders you to go one mile”), New English Bible (“If a man in authority makes you to go one mile”), New American Bible (“Should anyone press you into service for one mile”), and Barclay (“And if a Roman officer commandeers you to act as a baggage-porter for one mile”).

In addition to these models, other ways to handle forces include “if anyone makes you help him on the road” or “if anyone makes you carry his things.”

The mile referred to is a Roman mile (equal to 4,854 feet or 1,478.5 meters). Many translations have apparently maintained the literal mile, even in situations where the metric system is employed. However, in place of one mile … two miles Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates: “a far distance … twice as far.” One mile was presumably the distance a Roman soldier could force a Jew to carry his equipment. What is important here is not the exact distance, but the relation between one mile and two miles. Even if readers do not know exactly how far a mile is, they may well seize the intent of what Jesus is saying even if “mile” is translated literally. Nevertheless, many translators have said “one kilometer” and “two kilometers” simply to avoid introducing an unknown word, “mile.”

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 5:41

5:41a

and if someone forces you to go one mile: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as forces…to go means “force into service.” It originally referred to a Roman soldier who had authority to make a person carry something for him, as the Good News Translation translates (see the second example below). But it can also refer more generally to someone in a position of authority who can force you to do something for him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

if anyone requires you to go one mile (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile (Good News Translation)
-or-
And if someone forces you to carry his load for one mile

one mile: The word mile refers to a Roman mile, which is about one and a half kilometers. The exact distance is not important to the teaching.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

one kilometer
-or-
one ⌊length of⌋ ground/land

5:41b

go with him two miles: Use the same term for “mile” as you used in the previous clause, but now it is two of them or “twice as far.” Jesus’ point here was that the person forced to help another person should do more than he is asked to do.

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