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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mat C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28
Mat 5 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45 V47
OET (OET-LV) Furthermore you_all_heard that it_was_said to_the ancients:
You_˓will˒_ not _be_perjuring, but you_will_be_giving_back to_the master the oaths of_you.
OET (OET-RV) “Also, you’ve heard that it was said to our ancestors that you shouldn’t break your oath, but you must do whatever you promised to Yahweh.
For many years, English versions and Christians have commonly referred to Matthew 5–7 as “The Sermon on the Mount.” In some translations, it may be helpful to include a heading for chapters 5–7 that is on a level above the section heading for 5:1–12.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The Sermon on the Mountain
The sermon that Jesus preached on a mountain
Jesus taught people on the side of a mountain/hill
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients,
¶ “You(plur) have also heard that many years ago our(incl) ancestors were told:
¶ Jesus continued speaking, “You(plur) have also heard the teachers of the law say that the law of Moses told/commanded our(incl) ancestors:
Again: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Again here indicates that Jesus would talk about another command.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Also
Furthermore
you have heard that it was said to the ancients: This clause is the same as in 5:21. You should translate it the same way in both places.
‘Do not break your oath,
‘Do not fail to do what you(sing) have sworn/vowed to do.
‘You(sing) must not break any promises that you make in God’s name.
Do not break your oath: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as do not break your oath:
It refers to not keeping an oath or promise. For example:
Do not break your promise (GNT) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NJB, NLT, GW, NET, REB, CEV, NCV)
It refers to not giving false testimony. For example:
You shall not swear falsely (RSV) (RSV, ESV, NASB, KJV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions. It also fits the context better. In 5:34, Jesus continued by saying that his followers should not make any oaths at all.
break your oath: The Greek word that the BSB translates as break your oath refers to a strong promise to do something using the name of God (or something related to God in some way). People made oaths to show that they were telling the truth or that they would keep their promise. If someone broke such an oath, it was considered a misuse of God’s name.
An oath is stronger than simply saying “I promise that I will do it.” An oath is a strong promise like “I swear to God that I will do it.”
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
You must not break your vows (NLT)
Do not break a promise/vow you have made in God’s name
but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
But do the things that you have sworn/vowed to the Lord to do.’
Rather, you must keep the promises that you have made to the Lord God in his name.’
but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between “breaking your oaths” in 5:33b and keeping them in 5:33c.
Here are some other ways to show this contrast:
however
rather
fulfill your vows to the Lord: The clause that the BSB translates as fulfill your vows to the Lord can also be translated as “keep the oaths you have made to the Lord” (as in the NIV). This clause is the opposite of “break your oath” in 5:33b.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
fulfil your oaths (NJB)
keep the promises that you make to the Lord in/using his name
do what you have sworn to the Lord that you would do
to the Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the Lord is here a title for God himself. The Greek word means “master,” “owner,” or “a person who has great authority.” If the word in your language for Lord is too general, you may want to include “God” in the way you translate it. For example:
the Lord God
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
πάλιν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις ἀποδώσεις δέ τῷ Κυρίῳ τούς ὅρκους σοῦ)
Here, the word Again introduces a new group of contrasts between what the disciples have heard and what Jesus says to them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a second, similar section, or you could leave Again untranslated. Alternate translation: [Further] or [Even more]
Note 2 topic: writing-quotations
ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις
˱it˲_˓was˒_said ˱to˲_the ancients
Here Jesus summarizes several commands in the Old Testament that require people to do what they promised to do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that Jesus is summarizing commands from the Old Testament Scriptures. Alternate translation: [the ancient ones were commanded in the law]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἐρρέθη
˱it˲_˓was˒_said
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. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God speaking through Moses. Alternate translation: [God declared] or [Moses said]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τοῖς ἀρχαίοις
˱to˲_the ancients
Here, the phrase the ancient ones refers to the ancestors of the Jewish people to whom Jesus was speaking. The phrase most specifically refers to the Israelites who received the law at Mount Sinai. See how you translated the phrase in [5:21](../05/21.md). Alternate translation: [to the Israelites who lived long ago]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular
οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις, ἀποδώσεις δὲ τῷ Κυρίῳ τοὺς ὅρκους σου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις ἀποδώσεις δέ τῷ Κυρίῳ τούς ὅρκους σοῦ)
Since the author of the quotation is addressing each specific person who is part of God’s people, the command here is singular. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [Each of you, do not break an oath, but carry out your oaths to the Lord]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις ἀποδώσεις δέ τῷ Κυρίῳ τούς ὅρκους σοῦ)
Here, the command Do not break an oath could be forbidding people from: (1) swearing to do something and then not doing it. Alternate translation: [Do not fail to accomplish what you said in an oath] (2) swearing that something is true when it is not true. Alternate translation: [Do not swear falsely] or [Do not use an oath to say that something false is actually true]
Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις ἀποδώσεις δέ τῷ Κυρίῳ τούς ὅρκους σοῦ)
Here the word but introduces what to do instead of breaking an oath. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast. Alternate translation: [but instead]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ἀποδώσεις & τῷ Κυρίῳ τοὺς ὅρκους σου
˱you˲_˓will_be˒_giving_back & ˱to˲_the Lord (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις ἀποδώσεις δέ τῷ Κυρίῳ τούς ὅρκους σοῦ)
Here, the phrase carry out your oaths to the Lord means that people do to do what they promised the Lord that they would do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable clause or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [accomplish what you said in your oath to the Lord]
5:21-47 You have heard. . . . But I say: Jesus contrasts his own teaching to six misinterpretations of the law. Each antithesis provides an example of the surpassing righteousness of Jesus. Jesus reveals the will of God as it contrasts with traditions.
OET (OET-LV) Furthermore you_all_heard that it_was_said to_the ancients:
You_˓will˒_ not _be_perjuring, but you_will_be_giving_back to_the master the oaths of_you.
OET (OET-RV) “Also, you’ve heard that it was said to our ancestors that you shouldn’t break your oath, but you must do whatever you promised to Yahweh.
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.