MAT 9:15 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. And
4. But then
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5080
1. εἶπεν
2. legō
3. said
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIAA3··S
7. said
8. said
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5081
1. αὐτοῖς
2. autos
3. to them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3DMP
7. ˱to˲ them
8. ˱to˲ them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5062
11. 5082
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5083
1. Ἰησοῦς
2. iēsous
3. Yaʸsous
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····NMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y31; TFasting_Question; F5201; F5211
11. 5084
1. μήτι
2. mēti
3. -
4. -
5. 33850
6. T·······
7. surely_not
8. surely_not
9. -
10. -
11. 5085
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. aren't
5. 33610
6. T·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5086
1. δύναντα
2. dunō
3. -
4. -
5. 14160
6. VPAA·NNP
7. ˓having˒ entered
8. ˓having˒ entered
9. -
10. -
11. 5087
1. δύνανται
2. dunamai
3. are being able
4. -
5. 14100
6. VIPM3··P
7. ˓are˒ being_able
8. ˓are˒ being_able
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5088
1. Οἱ
2. ho
3. The
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMP
7. the
8. the
9. D
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5089
1. υἱοί
2. huios
3. sons
4. -
5. 52070
6. N····NMP
7. sons
8. sons
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; F5095; F5099; F5099; F5117
11. 5090
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5091
1. νυμφίου
2. numfios
3. -
4. -
5. 35660
6. N····GMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. -
11. 5092
1. νυμφῶνος
2. numfōn
3. bridal chamber
4. -
5. 35670
6. N····GMS
7. bridal_chamber
8. bridal_chamber
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5093
1. νηστεύειν
2. nēsteuō
3. -
4. -
5. 35220
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ fasting
8. ˓to_be˒ fasting
9. -
10. -
11. 5094
1. πενθεῖν
2. pentheō
3. to be mourning
4. -
5. 39960
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ mourning
8. ˓to_be˒ mourning
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5090
11. 5095
1. ἐφʼ
2. epi
3. because/for
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5096
1. ὅσον
2. hosos
3. as long as
4. -
5. 37450
6. R····AMS
7. as_long_as
8. as_long_as
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5097
1. μετʼ
2. meta
3. with
4. -
5. 33260
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5098
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5090; R5090
11. 5099
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. is
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5100
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5101
1. νυμφίος
2. numfios
3. bridegroom
4. -
5. 35660
6. N····NMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5102
1. ἐλεύσονται
2. erχomai
3. will be coming
4. -
5. 20640
6. VIFM3··P
7. ˓will_be˒ coming
8. ˓will_be˒ coming
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5103
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5104
1. αἱ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 5105
1. ἡμέραι
2. hēmera
3. days
4. time
5. 22500
6. N····NFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5106
1. ὅταν
2. hotan
3. when
4. -
5. 37520
6. R·······
7. when
8. when
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5107
1. ἀρθῇ
2. airō
3. -
4. -
5. 1420
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
8. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
9. -
10. -
11. 5108
1. ἀπαρθῇ
2. apairō
3. may be taken away
4. -
5. 5220
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
8. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5109
1. ἀφαιρεθῇ
2. afaireō
3. -
4. -
5. 8510
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
8. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
9. -
10. -
11. 5110
1. ἀπʼ
2. apo
3. from
4. -
5. 5750
6. P·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5111
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5112
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5113
1. νυμφίος
2. numfios
3. bridegroom
4. -
5. 35660
6. N····NMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5114
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5115
1. τότε
2. tote
3. then
4. -
5. 51190
6. D·······
7. then
8. then
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5116
1. νηστεύσουσιν
2. nēsteuō
3. they will be fasting
4. they
5. 35220
6. VIFA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
8. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5090
11. 5117
1. νηστεύουσιν
2. nēsteuō
3. -
4. -
5. 35220
6. VIPA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓are˒ fasting
8. ˱they˲ ˓are˒ fasting
9. -
10. -
11. 5118
1. ἐν
2. en
3. -
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. -
11. 5119
1. ἐκείναις
2. ekeinos
3. -
4. -
5. 15650
6. E····DFP
7. those
8. those
9. -
10. -
11. 5120
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 5121
1. ἡμέραις
2. hēmera
3. -
4. -
5. 22500
6. N····DFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. -
11. 5122

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:14–17: Jesus’ new teachings are better than the old customs

In this section, a third group of people, John’s disciples, criticized Jesus. (The first group was the scribes in 9:3. The second group was the Pharisees in 9:11.) They criticized Jesus and his disciples for not fasting. Jesus explained that there is a time for fasting and a time for not fasting. He explained that one day his followers would fast, but they would not fast while he was with them. This was different than the custom of always fasting twice a week like the Pharisees (and probably also the disciples of John) did.

So Jesus again showed that his new teachings were different than the old customs that the Jewish religious leaders had adopted. (He had started showing this in 6:16–18, where he taught his followers how to fast. They should fast in a way that other people do not notice that they are fasting. This was different from the Jewish practice of fasting with a sad face so other people would notice.)

Then Jesus told two parables to continue to explain that his new teachings are different than old Jewish religious customs. These parables indicate that his new teachings cannot be mixed with the old customs. They cannot be added to the old customs.

Many English translations begin this section with a heading like “Jesus Questioned About Fasting” (NIV) or “The Question about Fasting” (GNT). However, since 9:16–17 includes more than fasting, you should follow the heading above or one of the examples below:

The Superiority of the New (NET)

The new ways of Jesus are better than the old ways

Concerning the new ways that Jesus taught

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 2:18–22 and Luke 5:33–39.

9:15d

then they will fast.

and then they will fast.
That is when they will abstain from eating.

9:15a–d

Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast….”: In this verse, Jesus used an illustration or extended metaphor to answer the question that John’s disciples asked. He compared himself to a bridegroom and his disciples to a bridegroom’s friends.

The people listening to Jesus would have understood this comparison. If your readers will not understand it, it may be necessary to make it explicit.

Here are some other ways to translate this extended metaphor:

Keep the metaphor as in the BSB.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make Jesus and the disciples explicit. For example:
He compared himself to a bridegroom, and his disciples to the bridegroom’s guests. He said, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?…”
My disciples are like guests at a wedding. Can they be sad while I, the groom, am still with them? The time will come when I, the groom, will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.
Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? No! My disciples are like that. One day, I, the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast
Translate the meaning directly in the text and add a footnote explaining the metaphor. For example:
Can my disciples be sad while I am still with them? The time will come when I will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

Sample footnote:

Jesus said that his disciples did not fast because he was still with them. In Greek, he illustrated this teaching by using an illustration of the friends of a bridegroom. The friends would not be sad at the wedding while the bridegroom was still with them. It is only after the bridegroom is taken away from them that they would become sad and would fast. So his disciples would be sad and fast when Jesus’ enemies would take him away from them.

9:15a

Jesus replied,

And Jesus said to them, (ESV)
Then Jesus answered them with a parable,
Jesus answered them with a story/illustration. He said,

Jesus replied: The words that follow are in reply to the question in 9:14. Use a verb that is natural in your language in this context. For example:

Jesus answered (NIV)

Jesus answered their question with a parable. Use a natural way in your language to introduce the parable. For example:

Jesus answered them with a proverb/parable

9:15b

“How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them?

“Do the friends of the groom mourn while he is with them?
“The friends of the man getting married cannot grieve while he is with them.
“My disciples are like the friends of the groom. Do they mourn while I, the groom, am still with them? No!

How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that the guests will/can not mourn while the bridegroom is with them. A wedding is a happy time.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. (NLT)
As a statement. For example:
The friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. (NCV)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

guests of the bridegroom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as guests of the bridegroom refers to the friends of the bridegroom. They help the bridegroom organize the wedding, and they help him during the wedding.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

friends of the bridegroom (NCV)

the wedding guests (ESV)

In some cultures, marriage customs may be so different from those of the Jews that the term guests may be difficult to translate. For example, there may be no celebration at the time of a couple’s marriage, or the bridegroom may not be involved in the celebration. If that is true in your culture, you may need to use a very general phrase. For example:

people invited to the wedding

friends who are celebrating with the man-who-has-gotten-a-wife

bridegroom: The word bridegroom refers to the man who is getting married. In modern English, this man is simply called the “groom.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

groom (GW)

young man getting married

mourn: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mourn means “be sad, grieve, or weep.” It is what people do at a funeral, not a wedding.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

be sad (GNT)

grieve

while He is with them: The Greek word that the BSB translates as He is literally “the bridegroom.” However, since the BSB already used the word “bridegroom” in the expression “the guests of the bridegroom,” it uses the pronoun here.

Additionally, the BSB capitalizes the pronoun He to make it clear that Jesus is referring to himself. If this would be confusing in your language, consider making it clear that the pronoun refers to the “bridegroom.”

9:15c

But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them;

But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them,
But one day, someone/people will take the groom from them.

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the current time of happiness (15a–b) and the later time of sadness and fasting (15c–d). Some English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction But. However, some English versions, like the ESV, omit this conjunction.

the time will come: This clause refers to a future time when Christ, the bridegroom, will be taken away from the disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the day will come (GNT)

the time will come (NIV)

someday (NLT)

one day

when the bridegroom will be taken from them: This clause refers to the time when Jesus, the bridegroom, will be forcibly taken away from his disciples. It refers to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. It does not refer to the bridegroom leaving on his own.

The verb will be taken is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

Use a passive verb. For example:
when the groom will be taken away from them (GW)
Use an active verb. For example:
when people will take away the bridegroom

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parables

μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος? ἐλεύσονται δὲ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ τότε νηστεύσουσιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς μή δύνανται Οἱ υἱοί τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν ἐφʼ ὅσον μετʼ αὐτῶν ἐστίν ὁ νυμφίος ἐλεύσονται Δέ ἡμέραι ὅταν ἀπαρθῇ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ὁ νυμφίος καί τότε νηστεύσουσιν)

To help John’s disciples understand why his disciples do not fast, Jesus offers a brief illustration. He wants John’s disciples to think of him as if he were a bridegroom and of his disciples as if they were the sons of the bridal chamber. You should preserve the form of the parable, but if it would be helpful in your language, you could state explicitly that Jesus is like the bridegroom, and his disciples are like the sons of the bridal chamber. Alternate translation: [The sons of the bridal chamber are not able to mourn while the bridegroom is still with them, are they? But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. I am like the bridegroom, and my disciples are like the sons of the bridal chamber.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

μὴ δύνανται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος πενθεῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὁ νυμφίος?

Jesus is using the question form to teach John’s disciples. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [The sons of the bridal chamber are certainly not able to mourn while the bridegroom is still with them.] or [The sons of the bridal chamber cannot mourn while the bridegroom is still with them!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος

The expression sons of describes people who share the qualities of something. In this case, Jesus is describing people who share the quality of being an integral part of a wedding. These are the male friends who attend the groom during the ceremony and the festivities. Alternate translation: [The groom’s attendants]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐλεύσονται & ἡμέραι ὅταν

˓will_be˒_coming & days when

Here Jesus is using the word days to refer to a particular time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a similar form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a time will come when] or [there will be a time when]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀπαρθῇ & ὁ νυμφίος

˓may_be˒_taken_away & the bridegroom

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 does the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [someone will take the bridegroom away]

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. And
2. But then
3. 25320
4. S
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5080
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5083
1. Yaʸsous
2. -
3. 24240
4. UN
5. iēsous
6. N-····NMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y31; TFasting_Question; F5201; F5211
11. 5084
1. said
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IAA3··S
7. said
8. said
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5081
1. to them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3DMP
7. ˱to˲ them
8. ˱to˲ them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5062
11. 5082
1. The
2. -
3. 35880
4. D
5. ho
6. E-····NMP
7. the
8. the
9. D
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5089
1. sons
2. -
3. 52070
5. huios
6. N-····NMP
7. sons
8. sons
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; F5095; F5099; F5099; F5117
11. 5090
1. of the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5091
1. bridal chamber
2. -
3. 35670
5. numfōn
6. N-····GMS
7. bridal_chamber
8. bridal_chamber
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5093
1. are
2. -
3. 14100
5. dunamai
6. V-IPM3··P
7. ˓are˒ being_able
8. ˓are˒ being_able
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5088
1. not
2. aren't
3. 33610
5. mē
6. T-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5086
1. being able
2. -
3. 14100
5. dunamai
6. V-IPM3··P
7. ˓are˒ being_able
8. ˓are˒ being_able
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5088
1. to be mourning
2. -
3. 39960
5. pentheō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ mourning
8. ˓to_be˒ mourning
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5090
11. 5095
1. because/for
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5096
1. as long as
2. -
3. 37450
5. hosos
6. R-····AMS
7. as_long_as
8. as_long_as
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5097
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5101
1. bridegroom
2. -
3. 35660
5. numfios
6. N-····NMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5102
1. is
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-IPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5100
1. with
2. -
3. 33260
5. meta
6. P-·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5098
1. them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5090; R5090
11. 5099
1. But
2. -
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5104
1. days
2. time
3. 22500
5. hēmera
6. N-····NFP
7. days
8. days
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5106
1. will be coming
2. -
3. 20640
5. erχomai
6. V-IFM3··P
7. ˓will_be˒ coming
8. ˓will_be˒ coming
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5103
1. when
2. -
3. 37520
5. hotan
6. R-·······
7. when
8. when
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5107
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5113
1. bridegroom
2. -
3. 35660
5. numfios
6. N-····NMS
7. bridegroom
8. bridegroom
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5114
1. may be taken away
2. -
3. 5220
5. apairō
6. V-SAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
8. ˓may_be˒ taken_away
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5109
1. from
2. -
3. 5750
5. apo
6. P-·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5111
1. them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5112
1. and
2. and
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5115
1. then
2. -
3. 51190
5. tote
6. D-·······
7. then
8. then
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question
11. 5116
1. they will be fasting
2. they
3. 35220
5. nēsteuō
6. V-IFA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
8. ˱they˲ ˓will_be˒ fasting
9. -
10. Y31; TFasting_Question; R5090
11. 5117

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 9:15