OET interlinear MAT 13:25

13:25a

But: Something unexpected happens in this verse. An enemy comes and plants weeds in the man’s field. Many English versions are like the BSB and introduce this unexpected event with the conjunction But.

In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:

One night, when everyone was asleep (GNT)

while everyone was asleep: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as everyone:

1. It refers to people in general. For example:

   while everyone was sleeping (NIV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, NRSV, REB, NJB, GW, CEV, NLT96, NCV)

2. It refers specifically to the workers of the man who owned the field. For example:

   while his men were sleeping (NASB) (ESV, NASB, NLT, JBP)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This phrase probably includes everyone in the man’s household: the man, his family, and his servants.

13:25b

sowed weeds: The Greek word that the BSB translates as weeds refers to a specific type of weed.The name of this plant is darnel as in the REB. This weed looks very similar to wheat, but the seeds it produces are not edible.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a generic word for weeds. For example:

  sowed weed seeds

  planted seeds of bad plants

  scattered poisonous weed seeds

• Use a word that refers to a specific type of weed in your area. This type of weed should resemble grass or wheat.

wheat: The word wheat refers to a grain plant that is common in that area of Israel. The wheat plant produces grains that are ground into flour to make bread.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

• Use the specific word for wheat.

• Compare this to something that is commonly grown in your area. For example:

  something like rice/millet