MAT 16:3 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

ULT [fn] And in early morning, ‘Today will be stormy, for the sky is red, being overcast.’ You know to interpret the face of the sky, but the signs of the times you are not able.]

Some ancient manuscripts include the following words here.

UST When it is morning and the sky looks red and cloudy, you know that there will be storms that day. So, you realize what it means when the sky looks a certain way. However, you do not realize what God is doing right now.]

16:3 Several manuscripts do not include When evening comes… of the times. from verses 2 and 3.

16:3 CT does not include You hypocrites.

16:3 Several manuscripts do not include When evening comes… of the times. from verses 2 and 3.

BLB and in the morning, 'Today a storm, for the sky is red, being overcast.' Indeed you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but the signs of the times you are not able!

AICNT and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.’ [[Hypocrites]],[fn] you know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times?][fn]

16:3, Hypocrites: Later manuscripts add.

16:2-3, The bracketed text is absent from some manuscripts.

OEB But in the morning you say “Today it will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.” You learn to read the sky; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times!

WEBBE In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!

WMBB (Same as above)

NET and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times.

LSV and at morning, Foul weather today, for the sky is red—gloomy; hypocrites, you indeed know to discern the face of the sky, but the signs of the times you are not able!

FBV while in the morning you say, ‘It'll be bad weather today, because the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to predict the weather by what the sky looks like, but you can't recognize the signs of the times!

TCNT And in the morning you say, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ [fn]Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you cannot [fn]discern the signs of the times?

16:3 Hypocrites! ¦ — CT

16:3 discern ¦ recognize ANT

T4T Early in the morning you say, ‘It will be stormy weather today, because the sky is red, and dark clouds have formed.’ You understand how to predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot seem to look at what is happening now, and by that understand what God is doing.

LEB and early in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy weather, because the sky is red and[fn] darkening.’ You know how to evaluate correctly the appearance of the sky, but you are not able to evaluate[fn] the signs of the times.

16:3 *Here “and” is supplied in the translation because of English style

16:3 *Here “to evaluate” is an implied repetition of the verb earlier in the verse

BBE And in the morning, The weather will be bad today, for the sky is red and angry. You are able to see the face of heaven, but not the signs of the times.

Moff No Moff MAT 16:3 verse available

Wymth and in the morning, `It will be rough weather to-day, for the sky is red and murky.' You learn how to distinguish the aspect of the heavens, but the signs of the times you cannot.

ASV And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times.

DRA And in the morning: Today there will be a storm, for the sky is red and lowering. You know then how to discern the face of the sky: and can you not know the signs of the times?

YLT and at morning, Foul weather to-day, for the heaven is red — gloomy; hypocrites, the face of the heavens indeed ye do know to discern, but the signs of the times ye are not able!

Drby and in the morning, A storm to-day, for the sky is red [and] lowering; ye know [how] to discern the face of the sky, but ye cannot the signs of the times.

RV And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the heaven is red and lowring. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times.
(And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the heaven is red and lowring. Ye/You_all know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye/you_all cannot discern the signs of the times. )

SLT And in the morning, Today, wintry weather: for heaven, being sad, is fiery red. Hypocrites, truly ye know to decide the face of heaven, but the signs of the times ye cannot.

Wbstr And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

KJB-1769 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
( And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. Oh ye/you_all hypocrites, ye/you_all can discern the face of the sky; but can ye/you_all not discern the signs of the times? )

KJB-1611 And in the morning, It will be foule weather to day: for the skie is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, yee can discerne the face of the skie, but can ye not discerne the signes of the times?
(And in the morning, It will be fowl/bird weather to day: for the skie is red and lowring. Oh ye/you_all hypocrites, ye/you_all can discern the face of the skie, but can ye/you_all not discern the signs of the times?)

Bshps And in the mornyng, It wyll be foule weather to day: for the sky is lowryng redde. O ye hypocrites, ye can discerne the outwarde appearaunce of the sky: but can ye not discerne the signes of the tymes?
(And in the morning, It will be fowl/bird weather to day: for the sky is lowring redde. Oh ye/you_all hypocrites, ye/you_all can discern the outward appearance of the sky: but can ye/you_all not discern the signs of the times?)

Gnva And in the morning ye say, To day shall be a tempest: for the skie is red and lowring. O hypocrites, ye can discerne the face of the skie, and can ye not discerne the signes of the times?
(And in the morning ye/you_all say, Today shall be a tempest: for the skie is red and lowring. Oh hypocrites, ye/you_all can discern the face of the skie, and can ye/you_all not discern the signs of the times? )

Cvdl And in ye mornynge, ye saye: It wil be foule wedder to daye, for the sskye is reed, & gloometh. O ye ypocrytes, ye can discerne the fashion of ye sskye: can ye not the discerne the tokes of these tymes also?
(And in ye/you_all morning, ye/you_all say: It will be fowl/bird wedder to day, for the sskye is reed, and gloometh. Oh ye/you_all ypocrytes, ye/you_all can discern the fashion of ye/you_all sskye: can ye/you_all not the discern the tokes of these times also?)

TNT and in the morninge ye saye to daye shalbe foule wedder and that because the skye is cloudy and reed. O ye ypocrites ye can discerne the fassion of the skye: and can ye not discerne the signes of the tymes?
(and in the morning ye/you_all say to day shall be fowl/bird wedder and that because the sky is cloudy and reed. Oh ye/you_all hypocrites ye/you_all can discern the fassion of the sky: and can ye/you_all not discern the signs of the times? )

Wycl and the morewtid, To dai tempest, for heuene schyneth heueli.
(and the morning, To day tempest, for heaven shineth/shines heueli.)

Luth und des Morgens sprechet ihr: Es wird heute Ungewitter sein, denn der Himmel ist rot und trübe. Ihr Heuchler! Des Himmels Gestalt könnet ihr urteilen; könnet ihr denn nicht auch die Zeichen dieser Zeit urteilen?
(and the morning speaker you(pl)/their/her: It becomes today storm be, because/than the/of_the heaven is red and cloudy. You(pl) Heuchler! Des heavens shape(n) could you(pl)/their/her judge(v); could you(pl)/their/her because/than not also the sign this time/period judge(v)?)

ClVg Et mane: Hodie tempestas, rutilat enim triste cælum.[fn]
(And mane: Hodie storm, rutilat because triste the_sky. )

16.3 Rutilat enim. Patiuntur apostoli post resurrectionem, per quos me judicare in futuro scire potestis, quia cum non parco meis bonis quin patiantur, non parcam aliis in futuro.

16.3 Rutilat because. Patiuntur apostles after resurrection, through which me to_judge in/into/on future to_know can_you, because when/with not/no parco mine good because patiantur, not/no I_will_spare to_others in/into/on future.

UGNT καὶ πρωΐ, σήμερον χειμών; πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός. τὸ μὲν πρόσωπον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γινώσκετε διακρίνειν τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε?]
(kai prōi, saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos. to men prosōpon tou ouranou ginōskete diakrinein ta de saʸmeia tōn kairōn ou dunasthe?])

SBL-GNT καὶ πρωΐ· Σήμερον χειμών, πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός. ⸀τὸ μὲν πρόσωπον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γινώσκετε διακρίνειν, τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε.⸃
(kai prōi; Saʸmeron ⱪeimōn, purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos. ⸀to men prosōpon tou ouranou ginōskete diakrinein, ta de saʸmeia tōn kairōn ou dunasthe.⸃)

RP-GNT Καὶ πρωΐ, Σήμερον χειμών· πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός. Ὑποκριταί, τὸ μὲν πρόσωπον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γινώσκετε διακρίνειν, τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε;
(Kai prōi, Saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos. Hupokritai, to men prosōpon tou ouranou ginōskete diakrinein, ta de saʸmeia tōn kairōn ou dunasthe;)

TC-GNT Καὶ πρωΐ, Σήμερον χειμών· πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός. [fn]Ὑποκριταί, τὸ μὲν πρόσωπον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γινώσκετε διακρίνειν, τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ [fn]δύνασθε;
(Kai prōi, Saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos. Hupokritai, to men prosōpon tou ouranou ginōskete diakrinein, ta de saʸmeia tōn kairōn ou dunasthe; )

16:3 υποκριται ¦ — CT

16:3 δυνασθε ¦ δυνασθε γνωναι ANT

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 16:1–4: The Jewish leaders tested Jesus

The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of Jewish leaders who were often opposed to each other. Here, they joined together to test Jesus. They tested him by asking him to do a certain kind of miracle that would prove that God had sent him. This kind of miracle was called a “sign.”

Jesus rebuked them for asking for a sign. He said that the only sign that they would see would be like what happened to Jonah. Jonah was in a big fish for three days. Then God caused the fish to vomit Jonah onto land alive. Similarly, Jesus would be in the grave for three days. Then God would cause him to be alive again. This would prove that God had sent him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The leaders ask for a miracle

The Demand for a Sign

There is a parallel passage for this section in Mark 8:11–13. There is a parallel passage for 16:2–3 in Luke 12:54–56.

Paragraph 16:1–4

In this paragraph, the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus. They tested him by asking him for a sign to prove that he was from God.

16:3a

and in the morning,

And in the morning you^(plur) say,
When the sun is rising you^(plur) say that

and in the morning: Some words from 16:2a are implied but not repeated here. In some languages it may be more natural to include some or all the implied words. For example:

And in the morning you say (GW)

in the morning: Here the word morning refers to sunrise or soon after.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

at sunrise

when the sun comes up

16:3b

‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’

‘A storm will come today, because the sky is red and gloomy.’
the sky is red and has dark clouds, so today will be rainy.

Today it will be stormy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as stormy refers to a rainy and possibly windy day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It is going to rain (GNT)

it will be a rainy day (NCV)

for the sky is red and overcast: The Greek word that the BSB translates as overcast also means “gloomy” or “dark.” A threatening/gloomy sky is one where dark clouds fill the sky and block the sun.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

for the sky is red and threatening (ESV)

the sky is red and gloomy (CEV)

because the sky is red and dark

the sky is red and there are clouds

This clause is a basis/reason for the conclusion that “Today it will be stormy.” In some languages, it will be more natural to put this clause first. For example:

Because the sky is red and overcast, it will be stormy.

The sky is red and dark, so it will be stormy today.

In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

In the morning, you say that there will be rain because the sky is red and cloudy.

When morning comes and the sky is red and overcast, you say that there will be rain.

16:3c–d

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times: This sentence is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for understanding the signs in the sky, but not understanding the signs of that time.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

As a statement. For example:
You see these signs in the sky and know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that I am doing now, but you don’t know their meaning. (NCV)
As a rhetorical question. For example:
You know what the signs in the sky mean. Why don’t you know what the signs of the times mean?

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

16:3c

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,

You^(plur) can understand the signs in the sky,
You^(plur) can look at the sky and know what kind of day it will be.

You know how to interpret: The Greek word that the BSB translates as interpret also means “evaluate” or “judge.” Jesus said that his listeners had the ability to look at these signs in the sky and judge/evaluate their meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You know how to judge correctly (NET)

You are able to predict/tell if it will rain or not rain

You can tell what will happen

the appearance of the sky: The Greek phrase the BSB translates as the appearance of the sky is more literally “the face of the sky.” The ability to read and understand the signs of the weather is much like the ability to understand a person from their facial expressions.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the look of the sky (JBP)

when you see the sky

by looking at the sky

16:3d

but not the signs of the times.

but you^(plur) cannot understand the signs of the things happening now.
But when you^(plur) see the signs/things that are happening now, why are you not able to know what they mean?

but not the signs of the times: These words mean that the Pharisees and Sadducees were not able to understand the events of that time. And they should have understood those events. The Pharisees and Sadducees were leaders of the nation of Israel. They were responsible for understanding what was going on around them and what God was doing. But they did not.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you are not able to understand

why are you are not able to know

the signs of the times: This phrase refers to events that would happen when God would begin to establish his kingdom in the last days. The Jews believed that at that time, God would redeem his people, defeat their enemies, and establish his righteous kingdom.

The Pharisees and Sadducees should have recognized that the miracles that Jesus did were some of these signs. These miracles showed that he was the Messiah sent from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the signs concerning these times (GNT)

the events of these important times

the events/things that are happening now

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

πρωΐ, σήμερον χειμών; πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός

(prōi, saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [in early morning, you say that today will be stormy, for the sky is red, being overcast]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πρωΐ, σήμερον

(prōi, saʸmeron)

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 the previous sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [in early morning, you say, ‘Today]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

σήμερον χειμών; πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός

(saʸmeron ⱪeimōn; purrazei gar stugnazōn ho ouranos)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses, since the second clause gives the reason for the result that the first clause describes. Alternate translation: [The sky is red, being overcast, so today will be stormy]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ & πρόσωπον

(to & prosōpon)

Here Jesus speaks as if the sky had a face. He is referring to how the sky looks from the ground. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the appearance] or [the look]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε

(ta de saʸmeia tōn kairōn ou dunasthe)

This clause could be: (1) a statement that rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees. Alternate translation: [but you are not able to interpret the signs of the time.] (2) a rhetorical question that rebukes the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Alternate translation: [but are you not able to interpret the signs of the times?]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὰ & σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν

(ta & saʸmeia tōn kairōn)

Here, Jesus could be using the possessive form to describe signs that: (1) happen during the times. Alternate translation: [the signs that are happening during these times] (2) indicate that specific times have arrived. Alternate translation: [the signs that show that the times are here]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὐ δύνασθε

(ou dunasthe)

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: [you are not able to interpret]

Parallel MAT 16:3

Section 16:1–4: The Jewish leaders tested Jesus

Paragraph 16:1–4

16:3a

16:3b

16:3c–d

16:3c

16:3d