MAT 18:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But if he does not listen, take with you yet one or two others, so that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be verified.’

UST However, suppose that those fellow believers do not accept what you say. In that case, bring one or two other believers with you when you visit them again to tell them what they did wrong. That way, you are doing what Moses wrote in the law, that two or three people must confirm what someone says.

BSB But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by [the] testimony of two or three witnesses.’[fn]

BLB But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'every word may be strengthened upon the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

AICNT but if he does not listen, take with you one or two others, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established;

OEB But, if they do not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.

WEBBE But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.

LSV and if he may not hear, take with you yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.

FBV But if he doesn't listen, then take one or two more people with you, so that by two or three witnesses the truth can be confirmed.[fn]

18:16 See Deuteronomy 19:15.

TCNT But if he does not listen, take one or two others with yoʋ, so that every matter may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.

T4T If that person will not listen to you nor feel sorry that he has sinned against you, go get one or two other people who will listen to what you both have to say. Have them go with you so that what is written {Moses wrote} in the Scriptures might happen: ‘When one person accuses another in some matter, it should be confirmed by at least two or three people {at least two or three people should confirm it} before that person can be declared guilty {before they declare that person guilty}.’

LEB But if he does not listen, take with you in addition one or two others, so that by _⌊the testimony_⌋[fn] of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.

18:16 Literally “the mouth”

BBE But if he will not give ear to you, take with you one or two more, that by the lips of two or three witnesses every word may be made certain.

Moff but if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every case may be decided on the evidence of two or of three witnesses.

Wymth But if he will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses.

ASV But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.

DRA And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.

YLT and if he may not hear, take with thee yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.

Drby But if he do not hear [thee], take with thee one or two besides, that every matter may stand upon the word of two witnesses or of three.

RV But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
(But if he hear thee/you not, take with thee/you one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. )

SLT But if he hear thee not, take with thee yet one or two, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might stand.

Wbstr But if he will not hear thee , then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

KJB-1769 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
( But if he will not hear thee/you, then take with thee/you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. )

KJB-1611 But if he will not heare thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, euery word may be established.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps But yf he heare thee not, then take yet with thee one or two: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, euery worde may be stablyshed.
(But if he hear thee/you not, then take yet with thee/you one or two: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be stablyshed.)

Gnva But if he heare thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery worde may be confirmed.
(But if he hear thee/you not, take yet with thee/you one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed. )

Cvdl But yf he heare the not, then take yet with the one or two, that in the mouth of two or thre wytnesses, euery matter maye be stablyshed.
(But if he hear the not, then take yet with the one or two, that in the mouth of two or three wytnesses, every matter may be stablyshed.)

TNT But yf he heare the not then take yet with the one or two that in the mouth of two or thre witnesses all thinges maye be stablisshed.
(But if he hear the not then take yet with the one or two that in the mouth of two or three witnesses all things may be stablisshed. )

Wycl And if he herith thee not, take with thee oon or tweyne, that euery word stonde in the mouth of tweyne or thre witnessis.
(And if he heareth/hears thee/you not, take with thee/you one or tweyne, that every word stand in the mouth of twain/two_or_both or three witnesses.)

Luth Höret er dich nicht, so nimm noch einen oder zwei zu dir, auf daß alle Sache bestehe auf zweier oder dreier Zeugen Mund.
(Hear he you/yourself not, so take still a or two to/for you/to_you(sg), on/in/to that all matter exists on/in/to two or three witnesses(n) mouth.)

ClVg Si autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum, vel duos, ut in ore duorum, vel trium testium stet omne verbum.
(When/But_if however you(sg) not/no heard, adhibe with_you still one, or two, as in/into/on vocally of_two, or three of_witnesses stet everything the_word/saying. )

UGNT ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι, ἕνα ἢ δύο, ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν, σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα.
(ean de maʸ akousaʸ, paralabe meta sou eti, hena aʸ duo, hina epi stomatos duo marturōn aʸ triōn, stathaʸ pan ɽaʸma.)

SBL-GNT ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο, ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα·
(ean de maʸ akousaʸ, paralabe meta sou eti hena aʸ duo, hina epi stomatos duo marturōn aʸ triōn stathaʸ pan ɽaʸma;)

RP-GNT ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο, ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα·
(ean de maʸ akousaʸ, paralabe meta sou eti hena aʸ duo, hina epi stomatos duo marturōn aʸ triōn stathaʸ pan ɽaʸma;)

TC-GNT ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο, ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα·
(ean de maʸ akousaʸ, paralabe meta sou eti hena aʸ duo, hina epi stomatos duo marturōn aʸ triōn stathaʸ pan ɽaʸma; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:15–20: Correct a brother who sins

In this section, Jesus told his disciples what to do when a fellow believer sins against one of them. Jesus gave them some steps to follow to deal with the problem in a gentle and loving manner. The main goal of these steps is to restore the relationship between two believers.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

When a Person Sins Against You (NCV)

What to do if a fellow believer sins against you

18:16a

But if he will not listen,

But if he does not listen to you^(sing),
But if he does not accept your words,

But: There is a contrast between 18:15c and 18:16a. The contrast is between listening and not listening. The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the BSB translates as But.

if he will not listen: The phrase will not listen includes the same verb as in 18:15c.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If he does not hear you and repent

If he does not listen to you and is not sorry/regretful

If he does not accept your words

If he does not agree with you

Some English versions translate this phrase in a way that suggests that he is not willing to listen and respond appropriately. For example:

if he refuses to listen (NCV)

18:16b

take one or two others along,

get one or two others and take them with you,
ask/call one or two other believers to return with you to him to discuss the problem again.

take one or two others along: This clause means that the one who was wronged should ask or call one or two other people to go along with him. It implies that he should visit the brother a second time. He should “return to your brother” with them. It implies that he has gone away after confronting the brother one time without success.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

take one or two others with you and go back again (NLT)

go to him again and take one or two other people with you (NCV)

ask/call one or two other people to accompany you to go back to your brother

one or two others: This phrase refers to one or two other people. It does not specify who they are, but the context suggests they are also Christians. For example:

take one or two other believers along

General Comment on 18:16b

It is implied that the person who was wronged and the others discuss the problem again with the brother. The one or two other believers try to help resolve the problem. But if the problem is not resolved, then they are able to explain everything to the church in the next step (18:17a).

In some languages, it may be necessary to include some of this implied information. Here are some examples:

and you and they discuss the problem with him again

and you speak to him again with the others

18:16c

so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

so that ‘every accusation may have the support of two or three witnesses.’
so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. (NLT)
Do that so that two or three people will show/agree that everything that you said to him is true.

so that: Verse 18:16c is the purpose of taking along some believers (in 18:16b). The Greek introduces this purpose with a conjunction that the BSB translates as so that.

Here are some other ways to introduce this purpose:

in order that

that (ESV)

every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses: This is a quote from Deuteronomy 19:15. That verse talks about someone who is charged with a crime. The law required there to be two or three witnesses to the crime in order for someone to be convicted of it.

Here Jesus used the same principle for establishing truth (some witnesses), but he applied it to a different situation. Here, the witnesses come to support the person who was wronged. They support the charge/accusation against the other brother. They try to convince the man to listen that what he has done is wrong.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Keep the wording of the original context. For example:
every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses (CEV)
Adapt the wording to the current context. For example:
everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses (NLT)

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses (GW)
everything that you accuse him of may be confirmed/proven by two or three witnesses
Use an active verb. For example:
two or three witnesses will confirm the things that you say that he has done wrong

every matter: The Greek word that the BSB translates as matter is more literally “word” (as in the RSV). In its original context in Deuteronomy, this word refers to the “accusation” that a person had committed a crime. Here, this word refers to the words that you say to tell the man his fault.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

every accusation (GNT)

everything you say (NLT)

may be established: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as may be established also means “may be confirmed” or “may be proven true.”

The verb is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
may be verified (GW)
may be proved/shown
Use an active verb. For example:
may support/confirm
will show

by the testimony: The Greek word that the BSB translates testimony is more literally “mouth.” This is a figure of speech that refers to talking. The work of witnesses was to tell what they saw or heard. So the evidence would be given by their words.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

by the evidence (ESV)

Some English versions do not translate this phrase. The phrase “two or three witnesses” includes this idea. For example:

Every case may be proved by two or three witnesses (NCV)

In some languages, this phrase may not be necessary either.

of two or three witnesses: The word witnesses refers to people who have seen or heard something.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

of two or three people who say what they have heard

of two or three other people who say the same thing

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Δέ μή ἀκούσῃ παράλαβε μετά σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἤ δύο ἵνα Ἐπί στόματος δύο μαρτυρῶν ἤ τριῶν σταθῇ παν ῥῆμα)

Here the word But introduces the fact that the brother might not listen in contrast with the brother “listening” to the reproof (see [18:16](../18/16.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast. Alternate translation: [On the other hand,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

μὴ ἀκούσῃ

Although the term he is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [he or she does not listen]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι, ἕνα ἢ δύο

take (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Δέ μή ἀκούσῃ παράλαβε μετά σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἤ δύο ἵνα Ἐπί στόματος δύο μαρτυρῶν ἤ τριῶν σταθῇ παν ῥῆμα)

Here Jesus implies that you will go back to the other person and “reprove” them again. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [go back to him, and take with you yet one or two others] or [take with you yet one or two others and reprove him again]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σοῦ

you

Even though Jesus is speaking to many disciples, he is addressing an individual situation, so you is singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural form of you in your translation. If you do so, you may also need to make some other words plural.

Note 5 topic: writing-quotations

ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν, σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα

in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Δέ μή ἀκούσῃ παράλαβε μετά σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἤ δύο ἵνα Ἐπί στόματος δύο μαρτυρῶν ἤ τριῶν σταθῇ παν ῥῆμα)

Here Jesus quotes from the Old Testament scriptures, specifically from [Deuteronomy 19:15](../deu/19/15.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could format these words in a different way and include this information in a footnote. Alternate translation: [so that, as you can read in the Scriptures, ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be verified] or [so that you are doing what God required in the law, that is, that every word might be verified by the mouth of two or three witnesses]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν, σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα

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: [the mouth of two or three witnesses might verify every word]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

στόματος

˓the˒_mouth

Here, mouth represents what a person says. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the words] or [the testimony]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

πᾶν ῥῆμα

Here, word represents what a person says using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [every statement] or [everything that people claim]

Parallel MAT 18:16

Section 18:15–20: Correct a brother who sins

18:16a

18:16b

General Comment on 18:16b

18:16c