MAT 20:16 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. Οὕτως
2. houtōs
3. Thus
4. -
5. 37790
6. D·······
7. thus
8. thus
9. S
10. Y33
11. 13665
1. ἔσονται
2. eimi
3. will be
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIFM3··P
7. will_be
8. will_be
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13666
1. οἱ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13667
1. ἔσχατοι
2. esχatos
3. last
4. -
5. 20780
6. S····NMP
7. last
8. last
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13668
1. πρῶτοι
2. prōtos
3. first
4. -
5. 44130
6. S····NMP
7. first
8. first
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13669
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13670
1. οἱ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13671
1. πρῶτοι
2. prōtos
3. first
4. -
5. 44130
6. S····NMP
7. first
8. first
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13672
1. ἔσχατοι
2. esχatos
3. last
4. -
5. 20780
6. S····NMP
7. last
8. last
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13673
1. πολλοί
2. pollos
3. -
4. -
5. 41830
6. S····NMP
7. many
8. many
9. -
10. -
11. 13674
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. -
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. -
11. 13675
1. εἰσίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··P
7. are
8. are
9. -
10. -
11. 13676
1. κλητοί
2. klētos
3. -
4. -
5. 28220
6. S····NMP
7. called
8. called
9. -
10. -
11. 13677
1. ὀλίγοι
2. oligos
3. -
4. -
5. 36410
6. S····NMP
7. few
8. few
9. -
10. -
11. 13678
1. δέ
2. de
3. -
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. -
11. 13679
1. ἐκλεκτοί
2. eklektos
3. -
4. -
5. 15880
6. S····NMP
7. chosen
8. chosen
9. -
10. -
11. 13680

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:1–16: Jesus told a parable about vineyard workers

In this section, Jesus told a parable about some vineyard workers and the man who owned the vineyard. Even though the workers worked for a different number of hours, the owner gave them all the same pay. This parable continues the discussion about rewards for being a disciple (19:27–29). It also helps to explain the meaning of the saying “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (19:30). The main point of the parable is about God’s grace. In the kingdom, God gives his servants much more than they deserve. In the kingdom, the values are different than the values here on earth.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The story about men who worked in a field of grapes

A story that shows God’s generosity/grace

Rewards for serving God

This parable occurs only in the book of Matthew.

20:16a

So the last will be first,

So those people who are last will be first,
Then Jesus said, “In this way those people who are small/humble now will be big/great in the future.

The words in 20:16 are not part of Jesus’ parable. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this clear. Some ways to do this are to add some words of introduction. For example:

And Jesus concluded (GNT)

Jesus then said (CEV)

So: The Greek word that the BSB translates as So indicates that 20:16 is the conclusion that Jesus made from the parable.

Here are some other ways to translate it:

Therefore

In this way (GW)

the last will be first: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the last is more literally “the last ones.” It refers to people who are last. They are last in the sense of importance now. As the owner paid the last workers first, God will take those in the world who are lowest in status and make them great in his kingdom.

These words are similar to 19:30b. You should translate it in a similar way here. For example:

people who are last will be first

people who are low/humble now will become high/great

those who have the last place now will have the first place in the future (NCV)

The Greek does not necessarily imply that all who are last will be first. You should avoid words like “all” or “everyone” or even “many” here. In 19:30, the Greek has the word translated “many,” but here it does not. However, if translating without a word like “many” implies “all,” then you may want to use the word “many” from 19:30.

20:16b

and the first will be last.”

and those people who are first will be last.”
Those people who are big/great now will be small/humble in the future.”

and the first will be last: Some later Greek manuscripts include the clause “for many are called but few chosen.” The editors of the UBS Greek New Testament judged this clause most likely added by copyists who were thinking about the close of the parable in 22:14. Thus the editors decided with their highest confidence that this clause was not original and did not include it in the UBS Greek text. The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the first is more literally “the first ones.” It refers to people who are first. They are first in the sense of most importance now. But in the future, they will be last in importance.

These words are similar to 19:30a. You should translate it in a similar way here. For example:

and people who are first will be last

and people who are high/great now will become low/humble

and those who have the first place now will have the last place in the future (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὕτως

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι καί οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι)

Here, the phrase In the same way introduces how Jesus applies the story he just told. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [Just as in that story] or [Here is what that story means:]

ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι, καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι

will_be the last first (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι καί οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι)

See how you translated the similar sentence in [19:30](../19/30.md). This sentence switches the order and does not include the word “many,” so make sure you include those differences.

Note 2 topic: translate-textvariants

(Occurrence 2) ἔσχατοι

last

Some ancient manuscripts do not include any words after last. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts include the words “For many are called, but few are chosen” after the word last. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

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 20:16

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

Section 20:1–16: Jesus told a parable about vineyard workers

20:16a

20:16b

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