OET interlinear MAT 19:1

19:1a

When Jesus had finished saying these things: This is a time clause. It indicates that the previous part of Matthew’s story ended, and a new section of the story begins.

The BSB begins this section with the word When. You should follow the ordinary way in your language to begin a new section of a story.

The phrase these things refers to the parables and other things that Jesus said in chapter 18.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

When Jesus finished saying these things (GNT)

When Jesus finished teaching (CEV)

When Jesus finished teaching these things

19:1b

He left Galilee: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as left means that Jesus “departed” or “exited” the land of Galilee. For example:

he went away from Galilee (ESV)

It is implied that Jesus’ disciples went with him, because they are with him in 19:10. In some languages, it may be natural to make this information explicit here. For example:

he left Galilee with the disciples

he left Galilee and the disciples went along

Galilee: The word Galilee refers to the district of Galilee. Here is does not refer to the Sea of Galilee. It was a region north of Samaria and west of the Sea of Galilee. (See the map below.)

Here is another way to translate this word:

the land of Galilee

19:1c

went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as beyond the Jordan is more literally “on the other side of the Jordan.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

1. It refers to land on the west side of the Jordan River.According to this interpretation, Matthew used the phrase “on the other side of the Jordan” from the perspective of someone who was traveling down the east side of the Jordan River. That was the normal route that a Jew took to go from Galilee to Judea to avoid going through Samaria, and Jesus took that route. He left Galilee by crossing the Jordan River. Then he walked south through Perea. Finally, he recrossed the river again to enter into Judea on the other side. This is where the land of Judea is located. (most commentaries)

2. It refers to land on the east side of the Jordan River.According to this interpretation, Matthew used the phrase “on the other side of the Jordan” in its normal sense. The normal sense is from the perspective of someone in Jerusalem or Judea (on the west side of the river). So “on the other side of the Jordan” means on the east side. Many Jews lived on the east side, and some people probably also referred to that area as Judea. So Matthew referred to Judea in the broad sense of the region south of Galilee. Many Jews lived on the east side of the Jordan River, and some people probably referred to this area as also part of Judea. For example:

   and went to the part of Judea that is east of the Jordan River (CEV) (CEV, NLT) Most English versions are ambiguous, and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. If possible, you should also translate this phrase simply as “on the other side of the Jordan” and not specify which side. If you must make a choice, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). Most commentaries follow this interpretation.For example, Morris on page 479 says, “Mark and Luke both speak of Jesus as going into Judea, but neither says anything about leaving Galilee. This, however, is important for Matthew, and he includes it. He also tells us that Jesus came into Judea beyond the Jordan. Since Judea lay to the west of the Jordan, this raises a problem. It may mean that he traveled to Judea by way of the region to the east of the Jordan (as Jews commonly did; it enabled them to avoid going through Samaritan territory). In favor of this is the fact that Jesus passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem (20:29). Or, as Argyle thinks, Matthew may be using Judea loosely, to include Perea as well as the territory to the west of the Jordan; this would be supported by the fact that many Jews in fact lived in Perea. But it is more likely that Matthew is saying that Jesus’ first entrance into the province of Judea was by way of the area beyond the Jordan.”

Here are some other ways to translate 19:1c:

he entered the land of Judea from the other side of the Jordan River

and traveled along the other side of the Jordan River to the territory of Judea (GW)

he crossed the Jordan River and entered the land of Judea