weeping and gnashing of teeth

The Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “weeping and gnashing of teeth” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with heulen und vor Schmerz mit den Zähnen klappern or “weep and chatter teeth in pain.”

Also in German, the idiom Heulen und Zähneklappern (originally: Heulen und Zähneklappen), which today is used to express anger and outrage, often in a humorous context (literally “weeping and chattering of teeth”), was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 79)

In Russian, this phrase (Плач и скрежет зубов — Plach i skrezhet zubov) is also widely-used as an idiom, although less often in a humorous content. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 45)

In French, the phrase pleurs et des grincements de dents is likewise used as an idiom. (Source: Muller 1991, p. 16)

gnashing of teeth

Th Greek that is translated as “gnashing of teeth” or similar in English is translated as “gnashing their teeth in pain” in Estado de México Otomi for clarity purposes (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.).

See also gnash / grind teeth.

complete verse (Matthew 8:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 8:12:

  • Uma: “Actually, it should be the Yahudi people who are fitting to become God’s people/subjects in his Kingdom. Yet many of them will be shut on the outside and thrown away into the darkness that is far from God. There they will continually cry and suffer/groan.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But the people of the tribe of Isra’il, they should be the ones to enter the ruling/kingdom of God, they will not enter. They will be put outside in the darkness, driven away from God. They will wail there and gnash their teeth because of their regret.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But there will be also many descendants of Israel for whom God has prepared his kingdom, but they will be thrown into the darkness which is very far from where God lives. And they will yell, gnashing their teeth in great remorse.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But the Jews who should (but won’t) be included in God’s ruling, they will be thrown-away to the place of darkness, and they will cry-intensely while-simultaneously also clenching-their -teeth in their anger.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But many Judio will be driven away by God, those who are-supposed-to-be his people but they have no belief in me. They will be made to go to the darkness/dark-place which is far from him. There is where there is crying without restraint which includes grinding of teeth.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But concerning the people who should have entered into God’s hand and didn’t want to, they will be thrown into the deep darkness. There they will cry and gnash their teeth.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 8:12

Sons of the kingdom is a Semitic idiom meaning “people (here, the Jewish people) who belong to the kingdom.” In 9.15 “sons of the bride chamber” means wedding guests, and the Jews could also speak of “sons of the city,” “sons of the coming age,” and “a son of the Law.” Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1st edition translates sons of the kingdom by “people who actually were appointed for God’s new world.” INCL renders “people who were supposed to have been God’s people”; Malay common language version has “people who were supposed to enjoy the blessings of God’s rule”; and Barclay has “those who were born to be members of the Kingdom.” Translators will find all of these useful models.

In place of the passive for will be thrown into, some Greek manuscripts have the active form, “will go into.” TC-GNT believes that the evidence favors the passive, and most all modern translations apparently accept this reading. New English Bible translates “will be driven out” (so also New American Bible), while Jerusalem Bible renders “will be turned out.” For those languages that do not normally use a passive construction, an agent must be supplied, as in “God will throw them” or “God will have his angels throw them.”

The outer darkness is also used elsewhere by Matthew as a description of the doom that awaits people who reject God (22.13; 25.30). The figure of crying and gnashing teeth appears in conjunction with the outer darkness in 25.30 and is used without the figure of darkness in 24.51. Luke 13.28-29 is a parallel to verses 11-12, only in reverse order.

The outer darkness, obviously a reference to hell, represents what it is like where God is not found. Translators should try to retain this image, saying “the dark world where God is not (or, does not go)” or “the dark place away from God’s rule.” Some have said “the great dark place of hell.” “Dark” or “darkness” may have to be rendered as “black” or “place with no light.”

Men means people, not just males.

Gnash their teeth is a favorite Matthean formula; see 13.42, 50; 22.13; 24.51; 25.30. Elsewhere it occurs only in Luke 13.28. It means to grind or strike the teeth together in rage or pain. It may be necessary to add “in great pain” to the phrase gnash their teeth if this expression is not known.

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 8:12

8:12a

But: There is a contrast between 8:11 and 8:12. The contrast is between those who eat in the kingdom, and those who are cast out. The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions begin this verse with the conjunction But, which indicates this contrast.

the sons of the kingdom: The phrase the sons of the kingdom is an idiom. It refers to the people who belong to/in the kingdom of God. These people are the Jews. They are the people whom God first chose to rule. They are the ones who were supposed to be citizens in the kingdom of God. They were destined to be in the kingdom. But they did not believe in Christ, so they will not be in the kingdom.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those who should have belonged to the kingdom (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
those for whom the Kingdom was prepared (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the ones who should have been in the kingdom (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊many of⌋ the Jews who are supposed to be citizens of the kingdom ⌊of God⌋

8:12b

will be thrown into the outer darkness: This clause is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

will be thrown out into the dark (Contemporary English Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ will throw them out ⌊of the kingdom and⌋ into the darkness

into the outer darkness: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the outer darkness refers to the place that is outside the kingdom and far away from its light. The Jews considered this dark place to be hell.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

out into the darkness (Good News Translation)
-or-
into the dark (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
into the dark far away ⌊from God⌋

General Comment on 8:12a–b

Verse 8:12a–b contains a hyperbole. Not all Jews will be outside the kingdom. Some Jews believe in Christ and will be citizens of the kingdom. One way to make this clear is to add some information. For example:

But ⌊many of⌋ the people ⌊of Israel⌋ who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness.

8:12c

where there will be weeping: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weeping refers to the loud sound that people make when they have much grief and sorrow. It is not a quiet sobbing.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

where there will be wailing (Revised English Bible)
-or-
People will cry (God’s Word)

and gnashing of teeth: The phrase gnashing of teeth refers to grinding of teeth because of pain, anger, and bitterness. In hell, people will be in pain. They will also be angry at what happened to them.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

• Use an expression in your language that describes what people do with their teeth when they are in pain and are also angry. For example:

grind teeth
-or-
clench teeth

• Add some information. For example:

they will grind their teeth ⌊in pain and anger⌋

• Translate the meaning of the action. For example:

and be in extreme pain there (God’s Word)

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