Translation commentary on Matthew 9:9

Passed on: see comment in the introduction to this section. Unfortunately, the verb does not indicate the direction in which Jesus was moving. In verse 27 the verb is used in essentially this same construction, and there it appears to mean “depart from” or “go away from.” More frequently it is used with the meaning of “pass by” (Matt 20.30; Mark 2.14; 15.21; John 9.1).

Most translators will take passed on to mean here “he went away from.” They may even have “Jesus left there. As he went…,” “As Jesus went along from that place,” or “As Jesus left there.”

The tax office: both New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible specify that the taxes involved were customs. The tax office can be translated as “the place where they collect taxes for transporting goods.” If the word “customs” is known by readers, the translation can be “where they collect customs.” However, since Matthew was sitting there because he was one of those people who received the customs, it is also possible to say “he saw a man called Matthew who was collecting customs.” Another model is seen in Good News Translation. The translation can be “a customs (or, tax) collector in his place.”

The office was probably a very simple structure or building. Translators can also say “his place.”

Matthew: in the Gospel of Luke he is named Levi (5.27), while in Mark he is called Levi the son of Alphaeus (2.14). It seems probable that Matthew and Levi are the same persons, but there is no indication why the names differ in the various accounts. There is no textual or exegetical basis for the footnote in Living Bible: “The Matthew who wrote this book.”

And he said to him: in many languages it will be necessary to use names, as in “and Jesus said to Matthew (or, to him).”

Follow me must be taken in the sense of “come and be my disciple.” The translator should take care not to suggest that Jesus is merely inviting Matthew to come and follow him in a physical and geographical sense, though this certainly is involved. For these reasons, then, a possible translation of Follow me is “Come be my disciple.” “Come with me” may also be possible. Of course, some languages require indirect speech: “Jesus said to Matthew to come with him (or, come be his disciple).”

And he rose: in order to avoid the possibility of pronominal ambiguity, Good News Translation introduces the noun “Matthew” where the Greek text has he. Rose can be “stood up” or “got up.”

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 9:9

Section 9:9–13

Jesus invited Matthew to be his disciple

In this section, Jesus asked a tax collector named Matthew to follow him and be his disciple. Most Jews considered tax collectors to be traitors and thieves. They were traitors because they were Jews who collected taxes for the conquering Roman government. They were thieves because they forced fellow Jews to give them more taxes than the Romans required. Then they kept the extra money and got rich.

Not only did Jesus ask a tax collector to be one of his disciples, he also ate and fellowshipped with other tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees criticized him for doing this. Jesus responded by telling them that his purpose in coming into the world was to call such sinners to repent. He did not come for people who are righteous or for those who are well. Jesus showed his critics that associating with sinners in order to help them to repent was a proper attitude for believers.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus Chooses Matthew (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The Call of Matthew (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
The Call of Matthew; Eating with Sinners (NET Bible)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 2:13–17 and Luke 5:27–32.

Paragraph 9:9

In this paragraph, Matthew began another story concerning Jesus. This time he wrote about his own meeting with Jesus. There is movement to another location, and he introduced himself as a new participant. Use whatever is natural in your language for introducing another story in the life of Jesus.

Here are some other ways to introduce this new story:

Then
-or-
Next
-or-
After ⌊that happened⌋

9:9a

As Jesus went on from there: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went on can also mean “move along.” It probably indicates that Jesus left the town of Capernaum (where he had healed the paralyzed man) and was walking along the Sea of Galilee.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

As Jesus went on from there (New International Version)
-or-
Jesus left that place, and as he walked along (Good News Translation)

9:9b

He saw a man named Matthew: Here Matthew, the author of this Gospel, wrote about himself. He was not trying to focus attention on himself, but rather to focus on Jesus. So he wrote about himself in the third person as if he were another person.

sitting at the tax booth: This expression indicates that Matthew was working as a tax collector when Jesus came by. He was not just sitting there waiting to pay his taxes. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this clearer. For example:

sitting in a booth ⌊collecting taxes⌋
-or-
working in the tax collector’s booth

at the tax booth: The term tax booth probably refers to some sort of small table under a shelter. Matthew sat there to receive taxes from the people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in a tax office (God’s Word)
-or-
at the place for paying taxes (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
at the place where taxes are collected

9:9c

“Follow Me,” He told him: The Berean Standard Bible places the words He told him after what Jesus said. This is good English style. However, in some languages it may be necessary to put these words at the beginning of 9:9c. For example:

and he said to him, “Follow me.” (English Standard Version)

Follow Me: When Jesus told Matthew to follow him, he meant two things:

(a) He wanted him to literally go with him;

(b) He wanted him to become his disciple.

If people in your area will think that this is only a literal command to walk behind Jesus, you may want to:

• Include the figurative meaning in the text. For example:

Follow me and be my disciple (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Come, follow me as my disciple

• Translate the figurative meaning:

Become my disciple

This clause also occurs in 4:19a and 8:22b. You should translate it here as you did there.

He told him: The pronoun He refers to Jesus and the pronoun him refers to Matthew. It may be more natural in your language to translate one of the pronouns as a noun. For example:

Jesus said to him

-or-

he told Matthew

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