MAT 18:16 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. ἐάν
2. ean
3. if
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12296
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y32
11. 12297
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. don't
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12298
1. ἀκούσῃ
2. akouō
3. he may hear
4. listen
5. 1910
6. VSAA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ hear
8. ˱he˲ ˓may˒ hear
9. -
10. Y32; R12294
11. 12299
1. παράλαβε
2. paralambanō
3. take
4. take
5. 38800
6. VMAA2··S
7. take
8. take
9. -
10. Y32; R11934
11. 12300
1. μετά
2. meta
3. with
4. -
5. 33260
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12301
1. σεαυτοῦ
2. seautou
3. -
4. -
5. 45720
6. R···2GMS
7. yourself
8. yourself
9. -
10. -
11. 12302
1. σοῦ
2. su
3. you
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2G·S
7. you
8. you
9. -
10. Y32; R11934
11. 12303
1. ἔτι
2. eti
3. more
4. -
5. 20890
6. D·······
7. more
8. more
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12304
1. ἕνα
2. heis
3. one
4. -
5. 15200
6. S····AMS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12305
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12306
1. δύο
2. duo
3. two
4. -
5. 14170
6. S····AMP
7. two
8. two
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12307
1. μετά
2. meta
3. -
4. -
5. 33260
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. -
11. 12308
1. σοῦ
2. su
3. -
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2G·S
7. you
8. you
9. -
10. -
11. 12309
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12310
1. Ἐπί
2. epi
3. on
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. b
10. Y32
11. 12311
1. στόματος
2. stoma
3. +the mouth
4. -
5. 47500
6. N····GNS
7. ˓the˒ mouth
8. ˓the˒ mouth
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12312
1. δύο
2. duo
3. of two
4. -
5. 14170
6. E····GMP
7. ˱of˲ two
8. ˱of˲ two
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12313
1. μαρτυρῶν
2. marturos
3. witnesses
4. witnesses
5. 31440
6. N····GMP
7. witnesses
8. witnesses
9. -
10. Y32; F12324
11. 12314
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12315
1. τριῶν
2. treis
3. three
4. three
5. 51400
6. E····GMP
7. three
8. three
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12316
1. μαρτυρῶν
2. marturos
3. -
4. -
5. 31440
6. N····GMP
7. witnesses
8. witnesses
9. -
10. -
11. 12317
1. σταθῇ
2. histēmi
3. may be established
4. -
5. 24760
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ established
8. ˓may_be˒ established
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12318
1. παν
2. pas
3. every
4. -
5. 39560
6. E····NNS
7. every
8. every
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12319
1. ῥῆμα
2. rhēma
3. message
4. message
5. 44870
6. N····NNS
7. message
8. word
9. -
10. Y32
11. 12320

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:15–20: Correct a brother who sins

In this section, Jesus told his disciples what to do when a fellow believer sins against one of them. Jesus gave them some steps to follow to deal with the problem in a gentle and loving manner. The main goal of these steps is to restore the relationship between two believers.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

When a Person Sins Against You (NCV)

What to do if a fellow believer sins against you

18:16a

But if he will not listen,

But if he does not listen to you^(sing),
But if he does not accept your words,

But: There is a contrast between 18:15c and 18:16a. The contrast is between listening and not listening. The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the BSB translates as But.

if he will not listen: The phrase will not listen includes the same verb as in 18:15c.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If he does not hear you and repent

If he does not listen to you and is not sorry/regretful

If he does not accept your words

If he does not agree with you

Some English versions translate this phrase in a way that suggests that he is not willing to listen and respond appropriately. For example:

if he refuses to listen (NCV)

18:16b

take one or two others along,

get one or two others and take them with you,
ask/call one or two other believers to return with you to him to discuss the problem again.

take one or two others along: This clause means that the one who was wronged should ask or call one or two other people to go along with him. It implies that he should visit the brother a second time. He should “return to your brother” with them. It implies that he has gone away after confronting the brother one time without success.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

take one or two others with you and go back again (NLT)

go to him again and take one or two other people with you (NCV)

ask/call one or two other people to accompany you to go back to your brother

one or two others: This phrase refers to one or two other people. It does not specify who they are, but the context suggests they are also Christians. For example:

take one or two other believers along

General Comment on 18:16b

It is implied that the person who was wronged and the others discuss the problem again with the brother. The one or two other believers try to help resolve the problem. But if the problem is not resolved, then they are able to explain everything to the church in the next step (18:17a).

In some languages, it may be necessary to include some of this implied information. Here are some examples:

and you and they discuss the problem with him again

and you speak to him again with the others

18:16c

so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

so that ‘every accusation may have the support of two or three witnesses.’
so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. (NLT)
Do that so that two or three people will show/agree that everything that you said to him is true.

so that: Verse 18:16c is the purpose of taking along some believers (in 18:16b). The Greek introduces this purpose with a conjunction that the BSB translates as so that.

Here are some other ways to introduce this purpose:

in order that

that (ESV)

every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses: This is a quote from Deuteronomy 19:15. That verse talks about someone who is charged with a crime. The law required there to be two or three witnesses to the crime in order for someone to be convicted of it.

Here Jesus used the same principle for establishing truth (some witnesses), but he applied it to a different situation. Here, the witnesses come to support the person who was wronged. They support the charge/accusation against the other brother. They try to convince the man to listen that what he has done is wrong.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Keep the wording of the original context. For example:
every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses (CEV)
Adapt the wording to the current context. For example:
everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses (NLT)

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses (GW)
everything that you accuse him of may be confirmed/proven by two or three witnesses
Use an active verb. For example:
two or three witnesses will confirm the things that you say that he has done wrong

every matter: The Greek word that the BSB translates as matter is more literally “word” (as in the RSV). In its original context in Deuteronomy, this word refers to the “accusation” that a person had committed a crime. Here, this word refers to the words that you say to tell the man his fault.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

every accusation (GNT)

everything you say (NLT)

may be established: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as may be established also means “may be confirmed” or “may be proven true.”

The verb is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
may be verified (GW)
may be proved/shown
Use an active verb. For example:
may support/confirm
will show

by the testimony: The Greek word that the BSB translates testimony is more literally “mouth.” This is a figure of speech that refers to talking. The work of witnesses was to tell what they saw or heard. So the evidence would be given by their words.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

by the evidence (ESV)

Some English versions do not translate this phrase. The phrase “two or three witnesses” includes this idea. For example:

Every case may be proved by two or three witnesses (NCV)

In some languages, this phrase may not be necessary either.

of two or three witnesses: The word witnesses refers to people who have seen or heard something.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

of two or three people who say what they have heard

of two or three other people who say the same thing

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Δέ μή ἀκούσῃ παράλαβε μετά σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἤ δύο ἵνα Ἐπί στόματος δύο μαρτυρῶν ἤ τριῶν σταθῇ παν ῥῆμα)

Here the word But introduces the fact that the brother might not listen in contrast with the brother “listening” to the reproof (see [18:16](../18/16.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast. Alternate translation: [On the other hand,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

μὴ ἀκούσῃ

Although the term he is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [he or she does not listen]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι, ἕνα ἢ δύο

take (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Δέ μή ἀκούσῃ παράλαβε μετά σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἤ δύο ἵνα Ἐπί στόματος δύο μαρτυρῶν ἤ τριῶν σταθῇ παν ῥῆμα)

Here Jesus implies that you will go back to the other person and “reprove” them again. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [go back to him, and take with you yet one or two others] or [take with you yet one or two others and reprove him again]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σοῦ

you

Even though Jesus is speaking to many disciples, he is addressing an individual situation, so you is singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural form of you in your translation. If you do so, you may also need to make some other words plural.

Note 5 topic: writing-quotations

ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν, σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα

in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Δέ μή ἀκούσῃ παράλαβε μετά σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἤ δύο ἵνα Ἐπί στόματος δύο μαρτυρῶν ἤ τριῶν σταθῇ παν ῥῆμα)

Here Jesus quotes from the Old Testament scriptures, specifically from [Deuteronomy 19:15](../deu/19/15.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could format these words in a different way and include this information in a footnote. Alternate translation: [so that, as you can read in the Scriptures, ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be verified] or [so that you are doing what God required in the law, that is, that every word might be verified by the mouth of two or three witnesses]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν, σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα

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. Alternate translation: [the mouth of two or three witnesses might verify every word]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

στόματος

˓the˒_mouth

Here, mouth represents what a person says. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the words] or [the testimony]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

πᾶν ῥῆμα

Here, word represents what a person says using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [every statement] or [everything that people claim]

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 18:16

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

Section 18:15–20: Correct a brother who sins

18:16a

18:16b

General Comment on 18:16b

18:16c

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