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OET (OET-LV) And he answering said to_them:
Because to_you_all has_been_given to_know the mysteries of_the kingdom of_the heavens, but to_those it_has_ not _˓been˒_given.
OET (OET-RV) “You guys have been permitted to know the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom,” replied Yeshua, “but not those others.”
In this section, Jesus told the first of eightSome commentators do not consider 13:51–52 a parable, so they count seven parables in this chapter. parables about the kingdom of heaven. These parables helped the disciples understand the kingdom of heaven. They also helped the disciples understand why some people did not accept Jesus’ message.
The first parable is about a farmer who sows seed in different kinds of soil. The different kinds of soil represent different kinds of people and how they accept God’s Word. In 13:18 Jesus referred to this parable as “the parable of the sower.”
After Jesus told this parable, he explained why he told parables (13:10–17).
Some other examples for a heading for this section are:
A story about a farmer planting seed
The parable about the four kinds of soil
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:1–12 and Luke 8:4–10.
Jesus began a new topic here. He explained why he used parables. Some English versions begin a new section here. If you want to do that, here are some possible section headings:
Jesus explained the reason he taught using parables
The Purpose of the Parables (NRSV)
He replied,
He answered them,
He replied: In Greek, there is a word that occurs after this phrase. The BSB does not translate this word. There are two ways to interpret this Greek word:
It is a speech introducer and means that. It introduces Jesus’ answer. So most English versions do not translate this word. For example:
He replied, “The knowledge….” (NIV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, RSV, NET, ESV, NLT, NASB, GW, CEV, REB, NCV)
It is a conjunction and means because. It introduces the reason that Jesus spoke in parables. For example:
He replied, “Because the knowledge…” (NIV2011) (NIV2011, NJB, JBP, KJV)
Here are some issues to consider when deciding which interpretation to follow:
The majority of English versions follow interpretation (1). And the quote in the parallel passage in Mark 4:11 begins without the conjunction “because.”
The meaning of the verse does not change if you choose interpretation (2). It may even be more natural in some languages to start the quote with “I use parables because….” Many commentators also follow this interpretation.
“The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you,
“You(plur) have been permitted to know the secrets regarding the kingdom of heaven,
“God has revealed/told to you the secrets of his kingdom,
The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you: Another way to translate this clause is: “The secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you to know.”
In some languages, secrets are not something that can be given. They are “revealed” or “told.” You should use the verb that is most natural in your language for telling a secret. In this context, it is God through Jesus who has revealed certain secrets to the disciples.
This clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:
Use a passive verb. For example:
You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (NET)
You are permitted/allowed to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven
Use an active verb. For example:
God has revealed/shown to you the secrets of the kingdom of heaven
God has told you the secrets about the kingdom of heaven
I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you (CEV)
Notice that in the active examples above, the phrase The knowledge of is not translated. When secrets are revealed, it is implied that the person now knows them. So it may not be necessary to translate the phrase The knowledge of.
the mysteries: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mysteries refers to truths that were previously hidden or unknown. They were previously a mystery to everyone. Now, God reveals these truths only to certain people.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
secret/hidden truths
mysteries (NJB)
the kingdom of heaven: In the phrase the kingdom of heaven, the word heaven is a figure of speech called metonymy. In this figure of speech, heaven refers to God, but it refers to him indirectly by naming the place where he lives and rules. So the phrase the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.”
Here are some ways to translate heaven in this context:
Make some information explicit. For example:
the one/Lord who lives in heaven
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
God
This phrase also occurs in 3:2b, 5:3b, 10:7b, and 11:11c. Also see kingdom of heaven in the Glossary.
but not to them.
but they have not been permitted to know them.
but he has not revealed/told these secrets to them.
but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between two types of people: the ones who know the secrets, and the ones who do not know them. The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.
In Greek, this contrast is also emphasized by putting the two groups first in each clause. For example:
11b to you it has been given
11c to them it has not been given
If there is a way in your language to emphasize and contrast the two groups of people, you should consider doing it here.
not to them: Some words are implied from 13:11b but not repeated here. It may be more natural in your language to repeat some or all of the implied words. For example:
these secrets have not been revealed to them
he has not told/explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to them
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ὅτι ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τά μυστήρια τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἐκείνοις δέ οὒ δέδοται)
Here, the word But introduces the next thing that happened. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next event, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [Then]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
δέδοται & οὐ δέδοται
˓has_been˒_given & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ὅτι ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τά μυστήρια τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἐκείνοις δέ οὒ δέδοται)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: [God has given … God has not given]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὰ μυστήρια τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ὅτι ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τά μυστήρια τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἐκείνοις δέ οὒ δέδοται)
Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe mysteries that are about the kingdom of the heavens. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the mysteries concerning the kingdom of the heavens]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐκείνοις & οὐ δέδοται
˱to˲_those & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ὅτι ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τά μυστήρια τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἐκείνοις δέ οὒ δέδοται)
Here Jesus implies that those people have not been given the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [to those it has not been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
ἐκείνοις
˱to˲_those
Jesus is using the adjective those as a noun to mean the people whom the disciples asked him about. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [to those people] or [to the crowds]
OET (OET-LV) And he answering said to_them:
Because to_you_all has_been_given to_know the mysteries of_the kingdom of_the heavens, but to_those it_has_ not _˓been˒_given.
OET (OET-RV) “You guys have been permitted to know the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom,” replied Yeshua, “but not those others.”
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.