MAT 20:23 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. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 13824
1. Λέγει
2. legō
3. He is saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ saying
8. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ saying
9. S
10. Y33
11. 13825
1. αὐτοῖς
2. autos
3. to them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3DMP
7. ˱to˲ them
8. ˱to˲ them
9. -
10. Y33; R13777
11. 13826
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 13827
1. Ἰησοῦς
2. iēsous
3. -
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····NMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. -
11. 13828
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13829
1. Μέν
2. men
3. On one hand
4. -
5. 33030
6. C·······
7. on_one_hand
8. on_one_hand
9. D
10. Y33
11. 13830
1. ποτήριον
2. potērion
3. cup
4. -
5. 42210
6. N····ANS
7. cup
8. cup
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13831
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13832
1. πίεσθε
2. pinō
3. you all will be drinking
4. you will
5. 40950
6. VIFM2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ drinking
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ drinking
9. -
10. Y33; R13777
11. 13833
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 13834
1. τό
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 13835
1. βάπτισμα
2. baptisma
3. -
4. -
5. 9080
6. N····ANS
7. immersion
8. baptism
9. -
10. -
11. 13836
1. ὅ
2. hos
3. -
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····ANS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. -
11. 13837
1. ἐγώ
2. egō
3. -
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1N·S
7. I
8. I
9. -
10. -
11. 13838
1. βαπτίζομαι
2. baptizō
3. -
4. -
5. 9070
6. VIPP1··S
7. ˓am_being˒ immersed
8. ˓am_being˒ baptized
9. -
10. -
11. 13839
1. βαπτισθήσεσθε
2. baptizō
3. -
4. -
5. 9070
6. VIFP2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be_being˒ immersed
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be_being˒ baptized
9. -
10. -
11. 13840
1. τό
2. ho
3. which
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13841
1. δέ
2. de
3. on the other hand
4. other hand
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. on_the_other_hand
8. on_the_other_hand
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13842
1. καθίσαι
2. kathizō
3. to sit down
4. sitting
5. 25230
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ sit_down
8. ˓to˒ sit_down
9. -
10. Y33; F13859
11. 13843
1. ἐκ
2. ek
3. on
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13844
1. δεξιῶν
2. dexios
3. +the right
4. right
5. 11880
6. S····GNP
7. ˓the˒ right
8. ˓the˒ right
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13845
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13846
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. -
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. -
11. 13847
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. But and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13848
1. ἐξ
2. ek
3. on
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13849
1. εὐωνύμων
2. euōnumos
3. +the left
4. left
5. 21760
6. S····GNP
7. ˓the˒ left
8. ˓the˒ left
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13850
1. μού
2. egō
3. -
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. -
11. 13851
1. οὐκ
2. ou
3. not
4. not
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13852
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. is
4. is
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13853
1. ἐμόν
2. emos
3. mine
4. -
5. 16990
6. R···1NNS
7. mine
8. mine
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13854
1. τοῦτο
2. houtos
3. -
4. -
5. 37780
6. R····NNS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. -
11. 13855
1. δοῦναι
2. didōmi
3. to give
4. to
5. 13250
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ give
8. ˓to˒ give
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13856
1. ἀλλʼ
2. alla
3. but
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13857
1. οἷς
2. hos
3. for whom
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····DMP
7. ˱for˲ whom
8. ˱for˲ whom
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13858
1. ἡτοίμασται
2. hetoimazō
3. it has been prepared
4. prepared
5. 20900
6. VIEP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ prepared
8. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ prepared
9. -
10. Y33; R13843
11. 13859
1. ὑπό
2. hupo
3. by
4. -
5. 52590
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13860
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13861
1. Πατρός
2. patēr
3. father
4. father's
5. 39620
6. N····GMS
7. father
8. Father
9. G
10. Y33; Person=God
11. 13862
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13863

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:20–28: The mother of James and John asked Jesus for something

In this section, Jesus again dealt with the issue of who is important. In 18:1–4, the disciples had asked Jesus “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus had answered them there. Here, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to give her two sons the most important positions in his kingdom. Jesus again responded to the disciples’ concern to become important people.

Jesus said that the most important person in his kingdom is the person who behaves like a servant rather than like someone in charge. He finished by saying that he himself came to help other people rather than to ask other to help him. He showed that the values in his kingdom are different than the values here on earth.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Request of the Mother of James and John (NRSV)

The mother of James and John asks Jesus to make her sons the most people in his kingdom

Jesus Teaches about Serving Others (NLT)

There is a parallel passage for this section in Mark 10:35–45.

20:23a

“You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said.

Then Jesus told them, “Indeed, you^(plur/dual) will drink the cup of suffering which I will drink.
Jesus said, “You^(plur/dual) will certainly suffer like I will suffer.

You will indeed drink My cup: In Greek, this clause includes the word indeed, a word that the some versions do not translate. In this context, this word affirms the truth of this statement. The next clause (20:23b) is matched to it and gives a contrasting idea.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

You will indeed drink from my bitter cup (NLT)

You certainly will drink from my cup! (CEV)

It is true that you will suffer like I will soon suffer

drink My cup: As in 20:22b, the word cup represents suffering. The phrase My cup refers to the suffering that Jesus was going to experience in Jerusalem.

You should translate the expression drink My cup in a similar way to 20:22b.

20:23b

“But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant.

But to sit on my right side or my left side, I am not the person who gives those seats.
But I am not the person who gives someone a place to sit on my right hand and my left. But I am not the one who chooses/decides the person who will sit at my right side and the person who will sit at my left side.

But: There is a contrast between 20:23a and 20:23b–c. James and John would certainly suffer like Jesus (20:23a). But that does not mean that they will have the places of honor (20:23b–c) next to him.

The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

to sit at My right or left: As in 20:21c, the phrase right or left means “left side or right side.” The left and right sides of a king were positions of honor.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

as for who sits on my right and left

the person will sit on my right side and left side

In some languages, it is more natural to put this clause after “is not Mine to grant.” See the Display for an example.

is not Mine to grant: In Greek, this clause is more literally “this is not mine to give.” Jesus implied that he did not have the authority to give those positions of honor to anyone.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I do not have permission to give

I do not have the authority to say who

I have no right to say who (NLT)

20:23c

These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”

Rather, those seats are for those people whom my Father chooses. He has already prepared those seats for them.”
Instead, it is my Father who has prepared those seats for certain people, and he will give those seats to them.”
My father has decided the people who will sit in those places/seats, and he has already prepared those seats for them.”

There is a contrast here. The contrast is between a negative clause (in 20:23b) and a positive clause here in 20:23c. The negative clause is “to sit at My right…is not Mine to grant.” The positive clause is “These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.” Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive type of contrast. Here are some of the ways:

With the conjunction “but.”
With a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of contrast. For example:
Rather (NET)
on the contrary
Instead
With no conjunction. For example:
These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father. (NIV)

These seats belong to those: The BSB has added the words These seats belong. These words are not in Greek. The BSB has added them to make the sentence more natural in English.

The ESV expresses a similar idea by adding “it is for those,” probably using the singular word “it” to refer to the role or function that the two brothers wanted to have in the kingdom. It is also possible to use a plural word. For example:

Those places belong to those (NIV)

Those seats are for those people

for whom My Father has prepared them: This clause means that the Father has already decided who will sit on the right and left side of Jesus. He has already prepared that role/function for certain people. He has already made ready those places for people whom he has chosen.

In the Greek this clause is a passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
for whom they have been prepared by my Father (NIV)
Use an active verb. For example:
for whom my Father has prepared them (GNT)
My Father has already prepared these positions for certain people. (GW)
My Father has already decided who will sit in those places.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-tense

λέγει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγει αὐτοῖς τό Μέν ποτήριον μού πίεσθε τό δέ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μού καί ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἐστίν ἐμόν δοῦναι ἀλλʼ οἷς ἡτοίμασται ὑπό τοῦ Πατρός μού)

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: [He said]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ μὲν ποτήριόν μου πίεσθε

Here Jesus again speaks of experiencing pain and suffering as if it were drinking from a cup. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. See how you expressed this idea in [20:22](../20/22.md). Alternate translation: [You will experience the pain that I experience] or [You will experience the suffering that I experience]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸ μὲν ποτήριόν μου

Here, cup represents the drink inside the cup, which in Jesus’ culture would probably have been wine. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [My drink] or [The wine in my cup]

Note 4 topic: translate-textvariants

πίεσθε

˱you_all˲_˓will_be˒_drinking

Many ancient manuscripts end the question with the word drink. The ULT follows that reading. After the word drink, other ancient manuscripts include the words “and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am being baptized.” 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.

Note 5 topic: translate-symaction

τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων

When someone sits at the right hand or at the left hand of a ruler, this symbolizes that person’s honor, authority, and ability to rule. See how you translated the similar phrases in [20:21](../20/21.md). Alternate translation: [But to sit down to rule at my right hand and at my left hand] or [But to take the places of honor and authority at my right hand and at my left hand]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων

on ˓the˒_right (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγει αὐτοῖς τό Μέν ποτήριον μού πίεσθε τό δέ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μού καί ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἐστίν ἐμόν δοῦναι ἀλλʼ οἷς ἡτοίμασται ὑπό τοῦ Πατρός μού)

Here, the phrases at my right hand and at my left hand refer to the places next to Jesus’ right and left hands, which would be the right side and the left side. In the Jesus’ culture, these sides were associated with honor or authority. See how you expressed the idea in [20:21](../20/21.md). Alternate translation: [at my right side and at my left side] or [in the honorable places at my right and at my left]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλ’ οἷς

but ˱for˲_whom

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: [but it will be given to the ones for whom]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡτοίμασται ὑπὸ τοῦ Πατρός μου

˱it˲_˓has_been˒_prepared (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγει αὐτοῖς τό Μέν ποτήριον μού πίεσθε τό δέ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μού καί ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἐστίν ἐμόν δοῦναι ἀλλʼ οἷς ἡτοίμασται ὑπό τοῦ Πατρός μού)

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: [my Father has prepared it]

Note 9 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τοῦ Πατρός μου

the Father (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγει αὐτοῖς τό Μέν ποτήριον μού πίεσθε τό δέ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μού καί ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἐστίν ἐμόν δοῦναι ἀλλʼ οἷς ἡτοίμασται ὑπό τοῦ Πατρός μού)

Father is an important title that describes the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son.

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. He is saying
2. -
3. 30040
4. S
5. legō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ saying
8. ˱he˲ ˓is˒ saying
9. S
10. Y33
11. 13825
1. to them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3DMP
7. ˱to˲ them
8. ˱to˲ them
9. -
10. Y33; R13777
11. 13826
1. On one hand
2. -
3. 33030
4. D
5. men
6. C-·······
7. on_one_hand
8. on_one_hand
9. D
10. Y33
11. 13830
1. you all will be drinking
2. you will
3. 40950
5. pinō
6. V-IFM2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ drinking
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ drinking
9. -
10. Y33; R13777
11. 13833
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13829
1. cup
2. -
3. 42210
5. potērion
6. N-····ANS
7. cup
8. cup
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13831
1. of me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13832
1. on the other hand
2. other hand
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. on_the_other_hand
8. on_the_other_hand
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13842
1. which
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····ANS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13841
1. to sit down
2. sitting
3. 25230
5. kathizō
6. V-NAA····
7. ˓to˒ sit_down
8. ˓to˒ sit_down
9. -
10. Y33; F13859
11. 13843
1. on
2. -
3. 15370
5. ek
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13844
1. +the right
2. right
3. 11880
5. dexios
6. S-····GNP
7. ˓the˒ right
8. ˓the˒ right
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13845
1. of me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13846
1. and
2. But and
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13848
1. on
2. -
3. 15370
5. ek
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13849
1. +the left
2. left
3. 21760
5. euōnumos
6. S-····GNP
7. ˓the˒ left
8. ˓the˒ left
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13850
1. is
2. is
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-IPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13853
1. not
2. not
3. 37560
5. ou
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13852
1. mine
2. -
3. 16990
5. emos
6. R-···1NNS
7. mine
8. mine
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13854
1. to give
2. to
3. 13250
5. didōmi
6. V-NAA····
7. ˓to˒ give
8. ˓to˒ give
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13856
1. but
2. -
3. 2350
5. alla
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13857
1. for whom
2. -
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····DMP
7. ˱for˲ whom
8. ˱for˲ whom
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13858
1. it has been prepared
2. prepared
3. 20900
5. hetoimazō
6. V-IEP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ prepared
8. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ prepared
9. -
10. Y33; R13843
11. 13859
1. by
2. -
3. 52590
5. hupo
6. P-·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13860
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13861
1. father
2. father's
3. 39620
4. G
5. patēr
6. N-····GMS
7. father
8. Father
9. G
10. Y33; Person=God
11. 13862
1. of me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13863

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 20:23

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

Section 20:20–28: The mother of James and John asked Jesus for something

20:23a

20:23b

20:23c

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