MAT 6:26 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
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 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?

UST Think about the birds that fly in the sky. They do not plant seeds, and they do not harvest crops. They do not store crops, but God your Father, who rules from heaven, provides food for them. You are certainly much more important than they are, so you can be sure that God will give you what you need.

BLB Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow nor do they reap, nor do they gather into barns, and your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

AICNT Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?

OEB Look at the wild birds – they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and yet your heavenly Father feeds them! Aren’t you more precious than they?

WEBBE See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?

LSV Look to the birds of the sky, for they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into storehouses, and your heavenly Father nourishes them; are you not much better than they?

FBV Look at the birds[fn]—they don't sow or reap or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they are?

6:26 Literally, “birds of the air,” referring to wild birds rather than domesticated birds.

TCNT Look at the birds of the sky: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

T4T Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds, and they do not harvest crops and gather them into barns. But they always have food to eat because God, your Father who is in heaven, provides food for them. And you are certainly worth a lot more than birds [RHQ]! So you can be assured that God will supply what you need!

LEB Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?

BBE See the birds of heaven; they do not put seeds in the earth, they do not get in grain, or put it in store-houses; and your Father in heaven gives them food. Are you not of much more value than they?

Moff Look at the wild birds;
⇔ they sow not, they reap not, they gather nothing in granaries,
⇔ and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
⇔ Are you not worth more than birds?

Wymth Look at the birds which fly in the air: they do not sow or reap or store up in barns, but your Heavenly Father feeds them: are not you of much greater value than they?

ASV Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?

DRA Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?

YLT look to the fowls of the heaven, for they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into storehouses, and your heavenly Father doth nourish them; are not ye much better than they?

Drby Look at the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, nor reap, nor gather into granaries, and your heavenly Father nourishes them. Are ye not much more excellent than they?

RV Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?
(Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth/feeds them. Are not ye/you_all of much more value than they? )

SLT Look ye upon the fowls of heaven; for they neither sow, nor reap, nor collect into stores; and your heavenly Father nourishes them. Do ye not rather differ from them.

Wbstr Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

KJB-1769 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
( Behold the fowls/birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth/feeds them. Are ye/you_all not much better than they? )

KJB-1611 Behold the foules of the aire: for they sow not, neither do they reape, nor gather into barnes, yet your heauenly father feedeth them. Are yee not much better then they?
(Behold the fowls/birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feedeth/feeds them. Are ye/you_all not much better then they?)

Bshps Beholde the fowles of the ayre: For they sowe not, neither do they reape, nor cary into the barnes: yet your heauenly father feedeth them. Are ye not much better then they?
(Behold the fowls/birds of the air: For they sow not, neither do they reap, nor carry into the barns: yet your heavenly father feedeth/feeds them. Are ye/you_all not much better then they?)

Gnva Behold the foules of the heauen: for they sowe not, neither reape, nor carie into the barnes: yet your heauenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better then they?
(Behold the fowls/birds of the heaven: for they sow not, neither reap, nor carry into the barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth/feeds them. Are ye/you_all not much better then they? )

Cvdl Beholde the foules of ye ayer: for they sowe not, nether reepe, nor yet cary in to the barnes: and yet youre heauely father fedeth the. Are ye not moch better the they?
(Behold the fowls/birds of ye/you_all ayer: for they sow not, neither reepe, nor yet carry in to the barns: and yet your(pl) heavenly father feedeth/feeds them. Are ye/you_all not much better the they?)

TNT Beholde the foules of the ayer: for they sowe not nether reepe nor yet cary into the barnes: and yet youre hevely father fedeth the. Are ye not moche better the they?
(Behold the fowls/birds of the ayer: for they sow not neither reap nor yet carry into the barns: and yet your(pl) hevely father feedeth/feeds them. Are ye/you_all not much better the they? )

Wycl Biholde ye the foulis of the eire, for thei sowen not, nethir repen, nethir gaderen in to bernes; and youre fadir of heuene fedith hem. Whether ye ben not more worthi than thei?
(Behold ye/you_all the foulis of the eire, for they sown not, neither repen, neither gaderen in to bernes; and your(pl) father of heaven fedith hem. Whether ye/you_all been not more worthy than they?)

Luth Sehet die Vögel unter dem Himmel an: sie säen nicht, sie ernten nicht, sie sammeln nicht in die Scheunen; und euer himmlischer Vater nähret sie doch. Seid ihr denn nicht viel mehr denn sie?
(Behold the birds under to_him heaven an: they/she/them sow not, they/she/them harvest(v) not, they/she/them collect not in the Scheunen; and your(pl) heavenlyr father nourishes/feeds they/she/them though/but. Are/Be you(pl)/their/her because/than not many more because/than they/she/them?)

ClVg Respicite volatilia cæli, quoniam non serunt, neque metunt, neque congregant in horrea: et Pater vester cælestis pascit illa. Nonne vos magis pluris estis illis?[fn]
(Respicite flights heavens, since/because not/no serunt, nor with_fearnt, nor congregant in/into/on horrea: and Pater your cælestis feeds that. Isn't_it you(pl) more pluris you_are to_them? )

6.26 Respicite. Hoc ad escam. Sancti merito comparantur avibus, quia cœlum petunt, et quidam ita remoti sunt a mundo, ut jam in terris nil agant, sed sola contemplatione jam in cœlo degunt. De quibus dicitur: Qui sunt hi, qui ut nubes volant? Isa. 60., etc. Hæc exempla non prohibent providentiam ne laboret, sed sollicitudinem, ut tota fiducia vestra sit in Deo, cum et aves sine cura vivant. Et Pater vester. Exaggerat fiduciam filiorum et confirmat: quia si bonitas Patris etiam ad illa se extendit, quanto magis ad filios adoptionis?

6.26 Respicite. This to food. Holy deservedly are_compared birds, because sky petunt, and some so/thus remoti are from to_the_world, as already in/into/on lands nil agant, but alone contemplation already in/into/on sky degunt. From/About to_whom it_is_said: Who are hi, who/which as clouds fly? Isa. 60., etc. This examples not/no prohibent providencem not work, but anxietym, as the_whole confidence your be in/into/on to_God, when/with and birds without care live. And Pater your. Exaggerat confidence of_children and confirms: because when/but_if goodtas Father's also to that himself extends/stretches_out, how_much more to children adoptionis?

UGNT ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν, οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν, οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας, καὶ ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά; οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν?
(emblepsate eis ta peteina tou ouranou, hoti ou speirousin, oude therizousin, oude sunagousin eis apothaʸkas, kai ho Pataʸr humōn ho ouranios trefei auta; ouⱪ humeis mallon diaferete autōn?)

SBL-GNT ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά· οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν;
(emblepsate eis ta peteina tou ouranou hoti ou speirousin oude therizousin oude sunagousin eis apothaʸkas, kai ho pataʸr humōn ho ouranios trefei auta; ouⱪ humeis mallon diaferete autōn;)

RP-GNT Ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν, οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν, οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά· οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν;
(Emblepsate eis ta peteina tou ouranou, hoti ou speirousin, oude therizousin, oude sunagousin eis apothaʸkas, kai ho pataʸr humōn ho ouranios trefei auta; ouⱪ humeis mallon diaferete autōn;)

TC-GNT Ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν, οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν, οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά· οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν;
(Emblepsate eis ta peteina tou ouranou, hoti ou speirousin, oude therizousin, oude sunagousin eis apothaʸkas, kai ho pataʸr humōn ho ouranios trefei auta; ouⱪ humeis mallon diaferete autōn; )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

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

6:26a

Look at the birds of the air:

Consider the birds that fly around:
Think about birds.

Look at the birds of the air: This clause begins an example of why his disciples should not worry. In some languages, it may be necessary to include some implied information to indicate that this is an example. Here is one way to do this:

For example, look at the birds of the air

Look at: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as Look at in this context means “Think about carefully.” If people in your area will think this command is only to literally Look, you may want to use another verb. For example:

Consider

Think about

birds of the air: The phrase birds of the air is a Jewish way of saying simply “birds.” In many languages it will not be necessary to translate the words of the air. For example:

birds (GNT)

6:26b

They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—

although they do not plant nor harvest nor gather grain in storage places/houses,
They do not plant seeds nor harvest crops nor store food in granaries.

They do not sow: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sow means to “plant by throwing.” The particular method of planting is unimportant here. You will want to use a general verb for planting seeds or cultivating crops. For example:

they do not plant seeds (GNT)

They don’t plant (CEV)

They do not make fields

or reap: The word reap means “harvest a crop.” The particular method of “reaping” is unimportant here. You will want to use a general verb for harvesting crops.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

gather a harvest (GNT)

or harvest (CEV)

harvest/cut grain

or gather into barns: The word barns refers to buildings used for storing food for later use. It is implied that Jesus was referring to the harvest or grain that is gathered into the barns.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

gather the grain and put in storerooms

put the crops/seed in storage places/bins

place the grain in a granary

6:26c

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

yet your Father in heaven supplies food for them.
But/Nevertheless they do not starve, because God your Father who lives in heaven gives food to them.

and yet: Verse 6:26c is an unexpected outcome of the statements about birds. The BSB has supplied the word yet to indicate this unexpected result. Birds do not plant, harvest, or store grain. In spite of that, they have enough food to eat.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

but (NCV)

nevertheless

but even so

your heavenly Father: The phrase your heavenly Father refers to God who lives in heaven. If the use of your implies that God is not also Jesus’ Father, it may be more natural to say “our” father.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

your Father who is/lives in heaven

God, your/our^(incl) Father in heaven

feeds them: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as feeds them refers to providing food for the birds.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

provides food for them

takes care of them (GNT)

Implied in this statement is they do not starve because your heavenly Father feeds them.

6:26d

Are you not much more valuable than they?

You^(plur) are much more valuable than they, are you not?
And you^(plur) are surely much more important to God than birds are. So if he provides food for them, he will certainly provide food for you.

Are you not much more valuable than they?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that you are truly more valuable to God than birds are. Jesus was using a method that is called arguing from the lesser to the greater. If God takes care of the less important birds, he will take care of you because you are more important. The pronoun you is emphasized in the Greek. Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
You are much more valuable than they are, are you not?
Are you not worth more than the birds? (REB)
As a statement. For example:
And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. (NCV)
And of course, you are more valuable to God than mere birds are.

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

The implied conclusion of this verse is that God will provide food for people too. If people in your area will not come to that conclusion, you may want to include it in the text or in a footnote.

Here is an example of including it in the text:

You are certainly much more valuable to God than the birds. So God will certainly provide the food you need.

Here is an example footnote:

Jesus expected the disciples to understand that God will provide the food they need.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐμβλέψατε εἰς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τά πετεινά τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὅτι οὒ σπείρουσιν οὐδέ θερίζουσιν οὐδέ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας καί ὁ Πατήρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν)

Here, Jesus uses the phrase Look at to represent thinking about or considering something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Consider] or [Pay attention to]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ

Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe birds that fly in the sky. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the birds in the sky] or [the birds flying in the sky]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

ἀποθήκας

barns

The word barns refers to places where food is stored. If your readers would not be familiar with this term, you could use a more general one. Alternate translation: [places where food is stored]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος

the ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τά πετεινά τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὅτι οὒ σπείρουσιν οὐδέ θερίζουσιν οὐδέ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας καί ὁ Πατήρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν)

This is a figurative expression. God is not the Father of humans in the same actual way that he is the Father of Jesus. Even so, it would probably be best to translate Father with the same word that your language would naturally use to refer to a human father. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that this means God. Alternate translation: [God your heavenly Father]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν?

not you_all more_‹than› ˓are˒_carrying_value them

Jesus is using the question form to show that you are more important than them, the birds. 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: [You are more valuable than they.] or [You are certainly more valuable than they!]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

αὐτῶν

them

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: [they are]

Parallel MAT 6:26

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

6:26a

6:26b

6:26c

6:26d