MAT 16:3 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:1–4: The Jewish leaders tested Jesus

The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of Jewish leaders who were often opposed to each other. Here, they joined together to test Jesus. They tested him by asking him to do a certain kind of miracle that would prove that God had sent him. This kind of miracle was called a “sign.”

Jesus rebuked them for asking for a sign. He said that the only sign that they would see would be like what happened to Jonah. Jonah was in a big fish for three days. Then God caused the fish to vomit Jonah onto land alive. Similarly, Jesus would be in the grave for three days. Then God would cause him to be alive again. This would prove that God had sent him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The leaders ask for a miracle

The Demand for a Sign

There is a parallel passage for this section in Mark 8:11–13. There is a parallel passage for 16:2–3 in Luke 12:54–56.

Paragraph 16:1–4

In this paragraph, the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus. They tested him by asking him for a sign to prove that he was from God.

16:3a

and in the morning,

And in the morning you^(plur) say,
When the sun is rising you^(plur) say that

and in the morning: Some words from 16:2a are implied but not repeated here. In some languages it may be more natural to include some or all the implied words. For example:

And in the morning you say (GW)

in the morning: Here the word morning refers to sunrise or soon after.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

at sunrise

when the sun comes up

16:3b

‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’

‘A storm will come today, because the sky is red and gloomy.’
the sky is red and has dark clouds, so today will be rainy.

Today it will be stormy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as stormy refers to a rainy and possibly windy day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It is going to rain (GNT)

it will be a rainy day (NCV)

for the sky is red and overcast: The Greek word that the BSB translates as overcast also means “gloomy” or “dark.” A threatening/gloomy sky is one where dark clouds fill the sky and block the sun.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

for the sky is red and threatening (ESV)

the sky is red and gloomy (CEV)

because the sky is red and dark

the sky is red and there are clouds

This clause is a basis/reason for the conclusion that “Today it will be stormy.” In some languages, it will be more natural to put this clause first. For example:

Because the sky is red and overcast, it will be stormy.

The sky is red and dark, so it will be stormy today.

In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

In the morning, you say that there will be rain because the sky is red and cloudy.

When morning comes and the sky is red and overcast, you say that there will be rain.

16:3c–d

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times: This sentence is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for understanding the signs in the sky, but not understanding the signs of that time.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

As a statement. For example:
You see these signs in the sky and know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that I am doing now, but you don’t know their meaning. (NCV)
As a rhetorical question. For example:
You know what the signs in the sky mean. Why don’t you know what the signs of the times mean?

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

16:3c

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,

You^(plur) can understand the signs in the sky,
You^(plur) can look at the sky and know what kind of day it will be.

You know how to interpret: The Greek word that the BSB translates as interpret also means “evaluate” or “judge.” Jesus said that his listeners had the ability to look at these signs in the sky and judge/evaluate their meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You know how to judge correctly (NET)

You are able to predict/tell if it will rain or not rain

You can tell what will happen

the appearance of the sky: The Greek phrase the BSB translates as the appearance of the sky is more literally “the face of the sky.” The ability to read and understand the signs of the weather is much like the ability to understand a person from their facial expressions.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the look of the sky (JBP)

when you see the sky

by looking at the sky

16:3d

but not the signs of the times.

but you^(plur) cannot understand the signs of the things happening now.
But when you^(plur) see the signs/things that are happening now, why are you not able to know what they mean?

but not the signs of the times: These words mean that the Pharisees and Sadducees were not able to understand the events of that time. And they should have understood those events. The Pharisees and Sadducees were leaders of the nation of Israel. They were responsible for understanding what was going on around them and what God was doing. But they did not.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you are not able to understand

why are you are not able to know

the signs of the times: This phrase refers to events that would happen when God would begin to establish his kingdom in the last days. The Jews believed that at that time, God would redeem his people, defeat their enemies, and establish his righteous kingdom.

The Pharisees and Sadducees should have recognized that the miracles that Jesus did were some of these signs. These miracles showed that he was the Messiah sent from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the signs concerning these times (GNT)

the events of these important times

the events/things that are happening now

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

πρωΐ, σήμερον χειμών; πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός

(prōi, saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [in early morning, you say that today will be stormy, for the sky is red, being overcast]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πρωΐ, σήμερον

(prōi, saʸmeron)

Jesus is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the previous sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [in early morning, you say, ‘Today]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

σήμερον χειμών; πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός

(saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses, since the second clause gives the reason for the result that the first clause describes. Alternate translation: [The sky is red, being overcast, so today will be stormy]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ & πρόσωπον

(to & prosōpon)

Here Jesus speaks as if the sky had a face. He is referring to how the sky looks from the ground. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the appearance] or [the look]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε

(ta de saʸmeia tōn kairōn ou dunasthe)

This clause could be: (1) a statement that rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees. Alternate translation: [but you are not able to interpret the signs of the time.] (2) a rhetorical question that rebukes the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Alternate translation: [but are you not able to interpret the signs of the times?]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὰ & σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν

(ta & saʸmeia tōn kairōn)

Here, Jesus could be using the possessive form to describe signs that: (1) happen during the times. Alternate translation: [the signs that are happening during these times] (2) indicate that specific times have arrived. Alternate translation: [the signs that show that the times are here]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὐ δύνασθε

(ou dunasthe)

Jesus is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [you are not able to interpret]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

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.

OET interlinear MAT 16:3

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 16:1–4: The Jewish leaders tested Jesus

Paragraph 16:1–4

16:3a

16:3b

16:3c–d

16:3c

16:3d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)