MAT 17:20 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. he
4. -
5. 35880
6. R···3NMS
7. he
8. he
9. -
10. Y32; R11700; Person=Jesus
11. 11712
1. Δέ
2. de
3. And
4. then
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y32
11. 11713
1. Ἰησοῦς
2. iēsous
3. -
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····NMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus
11. 11714
1. εἶπεν
2. legō
3. -
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIAA3··S
7. said
8. said
9. -
10. -
11. 11715
1. λέγει
2. legō
3. is saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ saying
8. ˓is˒ saying
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11716
1. αὐτοῖς
2. autos
3. to them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3DMP
7. ˱to˲ them
8. ˱to˲ them
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11717
1. Διά
2. dia
3. Because of
4. -
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. because_of
8. because_of
9. D
10. Y32
11. 11718
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11719
1. ὀλιγοπιστίαν
2. oligopistia
3. little faith
4. small
5. 36395
6. N····AFS
7. little_faith
8. little_faith
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11720
1. ἀπιστίαν
2. apistia
3. -
4. -
5. 5700
6. N····AFS
7. unbelief
8. unbelief
9. -
10. -
11. 11721
1. ὑμῶν
2. su
3. of you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11722
1. ἀμήν
2. amēn
3. truly
4. -
5. 2810
6. I·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11723
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y32
11. 11724
1. λέγω
2. legō
3. I am saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y32; R11700; Person=Jesus
11. 11725
1. ὑμῖν
2. su
3. to you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11726
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. -
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. -
11. 11727
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. if
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11728
1. ἔχητε
2. eχō
3. you all may be having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VSPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ having
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ having
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11729
1. πίστιν
2. pistis
3. faith
4. -
5. 41020
6. N····AFS
7. faith
8. faith
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11730
1. ὡς
2. hōs
3. as
4. -
5. 56130
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11731
1. κόκκον
2. kokkos
3. +a seed
4. -
5. 28480
6. N····AMS
7. ˓a˒ seed
8. ˓a˒ seed
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11732
1. κόκκος
2. kokkos
3. -
4. -
5. 28480
6. N····NMS
7. seed
8. seed
9. -
10. -
11. 11733
1. σινάπεως
2. sinapi
3. of mustard
4. mustard
5. 46150
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ mustard
8. ˱of˲ mustard
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11734
1. ἐρεῖτε
2. legō
3. you all will be saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIFA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ saying
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ saying
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11735
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DNS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11736
1. ὄρει
2. oros
3. to mountain
4. mountain
5. 37350
6. N····DNS
7. ˱to˲ mountain
8. ˱to˲ mountain
9. -
10. Y32; F11744
11. 11737
1. τούτῳ
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. E····DNS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11738
1. Μετάβηθι
2. metabainō
3. Move
4. -
5. 33270
6. VMAA2··S
7. move
8. move
9. D
10. Y32
11. 11739
1. ἔνθεν
2. enthen
3. from here
4. -
5. 17595
6. D·······
7. ˱from˲ here
8. ˱from˲ here
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11740
1. ἐντεῦθεν
2. enteuthen
3. -
4. -
5. 17820
6. D·······
7. from_here
8. from_here
9. -
10. -
11. 11741
1. ἐκεῖ
2. ekei
3. to there
4. there'd
5. 15630
6. D·······
7. ˱to˲ there
8. ˱to˲ there
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11742
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11743
1. μεταβήσεται
2. metabainō
3. it will be moving
4. -
5. 33270
6. VIFM3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓will_be˒ moving
8. ˱it˲ ˓will_be˒ moving
9. -
10. Y32; R11737
11. 11744
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11745
1. οὐδέν
2. oudeis
3. nothing
4. nothing
5. 37620
6. R····NNS
7. nothing
8. nothing
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11746
1. ἀδυνατήσει
2. adunateō
3. will be unattaining
4. -
5. 1010
6. VIFA3··S
7. ˓will_be˒ unattaining
8. ˓will_be˒ unattaining
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11747
1. ὑμῖν
2. su
3. for you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2D·P
7. ˱for˲ you_all
8. ˱for˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11748

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 17:14–20: Jesus healed a boy whom a demon controlled

In 10:1 Jesus had given power to his twelve disciples to cast out demons and heal sick people. Then the disciples went out in groups of two and did those things (Mark 6:7–13). But in this section, they could not cast out a demon that caused a boy to have severe physical problems. Only Jesus was able to force the demon to leave the boy. This story shows that the disciples’ faith was not yet strong.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus Cures A Demon-Possessed Boy (GW)

The Healing of a Boy With a Demon (NIV)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 9:14–29 and at Luke 9:37–43.

17:20a

“Because you have so little faith,” He answered.

He answered them, “Because your faith is small/lacking.
Jesus answered, “It is because you^(plur) do not believe in God enough.

Because you have so little faith: Some words from 17:19b are implied here but not repeated. The complete sentence would be:

You could not cast it out because you have so little faith.

The Greek word that the BSB translates as little faith describes the kind of faith the disciples had. They did not believe very strongly or with confidence.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

It is because you don’t have enough faith! (CEV)

Because your faith is too small. (NCV)

Because your faith/trust is lacking.

Because you do not believe/trust in God enough.

Jesus also used the expression “little faith” in 14:31b. You should translate these two expressions in a similar way.

He answered: In 17:20a, Jesus began to answer the disciples’ question. So, in some languages, it may be more natural to use the verb “said” instead of answered. For example:

He said to them (ESV)

17:20b

“For truly I tell you,

I assure you^(plur) that
I tell you^(plur) with certainty,

For: In 17:20b–c, Jesus explained why he said that the disciples had little faith. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the BSB translates as For. Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. They let the context indicate the connection instead. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

truly I tell you: Jesus often used these words to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

I assure you (NLT96)

Listen to this:

Let me tell you this:

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

This clause first occurs in 5:18a. You should translate it here as you did there.

17:20c

if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

if you^(plur) have faith even as small as a mustard seed,
if you^(plur) have faith, even if it is as small as the smallest seed,

if you have faith the size of a mustard seed: This is a type of comparison called a simile. In this simile, Jesus compared effective faith to a mustard seed. They are similar in that both can be small, and both can do mighty things. Even a small amount of true faith can move mountains. (For help in translating the term mustard seed, see the note below.)

Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

Make explicit the way faith and mustard seed are similar. For example:
if you have faith as small as a mustard seed (NIV)
if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed (NLT)
Use a generic word for mustard seed. For example:
if you have faith, even if it is as small as the smallest seed

a mustard seed: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as a mustard seed can also be translated simply as “a grain of mustard seed” (as in the ESV). To Jewish people, the mustard seed was a symbol of smallness.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Use your word for seed and transliterate the word mustard according to the sounds of your language. For example:
a musutarade seed
a seed of the plant/tree called mutar
Use a generic phrase. For example:
a tiny seed
Use the name of a local seed that is known to be very small, but grows into a tree. If you use this option, you may want to indicate the literal name in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The Greek text is literally “a mustard seed.”

The phrase mustard seed also occurs in 13:31b–c. You should translate it the same way in both places.

17:20d

you can say to this mountain,

you^(plur) might/could say to this mountain,
you^(plur) could for example tell this/that mountain

you can say to this mountain: This is an example of the small (but effective) faith of 17:20c. In Greek, the verb that the BSB translates as can say is future. It is as if Jesus were predicting that the disciples were going to say this at some time. But the context indicates that Jesus was implying that the disciples could move the mountain if they needed to. Use words which show that moving a mountain is an example. For example:

you can say to this mountain (NIV)

you might for example say to this mountain

you could possibly tell this mountain

this mountain: This phrase probably refers to the mountain where Jesus had just been with his disciples. It is the mountain where his appearance had changed in front of them.

So you should translate this phrase as “this/that mountain.” You should not translate this phrase as “a mountain.”

17:20e

‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.

‘Leave this place and move to that place,’ and it will do it!
to move from where it is and go to another place, and it will obey you!

Move from here to there: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Move means to change position from one place to another. This word does not imply repeated movement back and forth.

The words from here to there indicate movement from a near place to a far place.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Leave from here and go over there.

Leave this place and go there.

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

to move from here to there

and it will move: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and it will do it

and it would obey you

17:20f

Nothing will be impossible for you.”

There is nothing that you^(plur) will not be able to do.”
All things will be possible for you. (NCV)

Nothing will be impossible for you: This clause indicates that, if the disciples have even a tiny bit of faith, there is nothing that they cannot do. They will be able to do anything.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

There is nothing that you will not be able to do.

There is nothing that you cannot do.

All things will be possible for you. (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-tense

λέγει

˓is˒_saying

To call attention to a development in the story, Matthew uses the present tense in past narration. If it would not be natural to do that in your language, you could use the past tense in your translation. Alternate translation: [said]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

διὰ τὴν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ὑμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ λέγει αὐτοῖς Διά τήν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ὑμῶν ἀμήν Γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν ἐάν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ Μετάβηθι ἔνθεν ἐκεῖ καί μεταβήσεται καί οὐδέν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [Because you believe so little]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

Here, the word For introduces an explanation about how much faith the disciples need. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [In fact,] or [Here is what I mean:]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, μετάβα ἔνθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεταβήσεται, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν

Jesus uses an imaginary situation to show that a person with even a little bit of faith can do amazing things, like having a mountain move. Use a natural method in your language for introducing an imaginary situation. Alternate translation: [imagine that you had faith like a mustard seed. In that case, you could even say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move, and nothing would be impossible for you]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως

faith as ˓a˒_seed ˱of˲_mustard

Jesus is saying that their faith might be like a mustard seed because both would be very small. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [faith as small as a mustard seed]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

κόκκον σινάπεως

˓a˒_seed ˱of˲_mustard

A mustard seed is a very small seed that grows into a large plant. If your readers would not be familiar with this kind of seed, in your translation you could use the name of another seed like it, or you could use a general phrase. Alternate translation: [a very small seed]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, μετάβα ἔνθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ

¬the ˱to˲_mountain this (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ λέγει αὐτοῖς Διά τήν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ὑμῶν ἀμήν Γάρ λέγω ὑμῖν ἐάν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ Μετάβηθι ἔνθεν ἐκεῖ καί μεταβήσεται καί οὐδέν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν)

It may be more natural in your language to have an indirect quotation here. Alternate translation: [to this mountain that you want it to move from here to there, and]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ

¬the ˱to˲_mountain this

Here, the phrase this mountain refers to the mountain from which Jesus and three of his disciples had just come down. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [to the mountain I was just on]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

μετάβα

Here, the command is singular because someone is speaking to one mountain.

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

ἔνθεν ἐκεῖ

˱from˲_here ˱to˲_there

Here Jesus is not referring to specific locations. Instead, he is referring to telling the mountain to move from where it is to some other location. Use a form that refers to changing locations without specifying where those locations are. Alternate translation: [from this place to another place]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει

If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative word nothing and the negative word impossible. Alternate translation: [everything will be possible]

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

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. And
2. then
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y32
11. 11713
1. he
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-···3NMS
7. he
8. he
9. -
10. Y32; R11700; Person=Jesus
11. 11712
1. is saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ saying
8. ˓is˒ saying
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11716
1. to them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3DMP
7. ˱to˲ them
8. ˱to˲ them
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11717
1. Because of
2. -
3. 12230
4. D
5. dia
6. P-·······
7. because_of
8. because_of
9. D
10. Y32
11. 11718
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11719
1. little faith
2. small
3. 36395
5. oligopistia
6. N-····AFS
7. little_faith
8. little_faith
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11720
1. of you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11722
1. For/Because
2. -
3. 10630
4. S
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y32
11. 11724
1. truly
2. -
3. 2810
5. amēn
6. I-·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11723
1. I am saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y32; R11700; Person=Jesus
11. 11725
1. to you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11726
1. if
2. -
3. 14370
5. ean
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11728
1. you all may be having
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-SPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ having
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ having
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11729
1. faith
2. -
3. 41020
5. pistis
6. N-····AFS
7. faith
8. faith
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11730
1. as
2. -
3. 56130
5. hōs
6. C-·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11731
1. +a seed
2. -
3. 28480
5. kokkos
6. N-····AMS
7. ˓a˒ seed
8. ˓a˒ seed
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11732
1. of mustard
2. mustard
3. 46150
5. sinapi
6. N-····GNS
7. ˱of˲ mustard
8. ˱of˲ mustard
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11734
1. you all will be saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IFA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ saying
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ saying
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11735
1. to
2. mountain
3. 37350
5. oros
6. N-····DNS
7. ˱to˲ mountain
8. ˱to˲ mountain
9. -
10. Y32; F11744
11. 11737
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DNS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11736
1. this
2. -
3. 37780
5. houtos
6. E-····DNS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11738
1. mountain
2. mountain
3. 37350
5. oros
6. N-····DNS
7. ˱to˲ mountain
8. ˱to˲ mountain
9. -
10. Y32; F11744
11. 11737
1. Move
2. -
3. 33270
4. D
5. metabainō
6. V-MAA2··S
7. move
8. move
9. D
10. Y32
11. 11739
1. from here
2. -
3. 17595
5. enthen
6. D-·······
7. ˱from˲ here
8. ˱from˲ here
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11740
1. to there
2. there'd
3. 15630
5. ekei
6. D-·······
7. ˱to˲ there
8. ˱to˲ there
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11742
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11743
1. it will be moving
2. -
3. 33270
5. metabainō
6. V-IFM3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓will_be˒ moving
8. ˱it˲ ˓will_be˒ moving
9. -
10. Y32; R11737
11. 11744
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11745
1. nothing
2. nothing
3. 37620
5. oudeis
6. R-····NNS
7. nothing
8. nothing
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11746
1. will be unattaining
2. -
3. 1010
5. adunateō
6. V-IFA3··S
7. ˓will_be˒ unattaining
8. ˓will_be˒ unattaining
9. -
10. Y32
11. 11747
1. for you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2D·P
7. ˱for˲ you_all
8. ˱for˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y32; R11698
11. 11748

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 17:20

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