MAT 9:5 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, 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 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

UST You may think that it is easy to claim to forgive other people for their sins, since it is difficult to prove whether this has happened. Similarly, you may think that it is difficult to tell someone who cannot move to stand up and walk around, since it is easy to prove whether this has happened.

BSB Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

BLB For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise and walk?'

AICNT For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

OEB Which, I ask, is the easier? – to say “Your sins are forgiven”? Or to say “Get up, and walk”?

WEBBE For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?

LSV For which is easier? To say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise and walk?

FBV What is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Get up and walk’?

TCNT Which is easier, to say, ‘Yoʋr sins are [fn]forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

9:5 forgiven ¦ forgiven yoʋ 𝔐^pt TR

T4T It would not be risky for someone to say to this man, ‘I forgive your sins’, because no one could see whether or not it really happened. But no one, without having the power to heal, would say to him, ‘Get up and walk!’, because people could easily see whether it happened or not! [RHQ]

LEB For which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

BBE For which is the simpler, to say, You have forgiveness for your sins; or to say, Get up and go?

Moff Which is the easier thing, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

Wymth Why, which is easier? —to say, `Your sins are pardoned,' or to say `Rise up and walk'?

ASV For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

DRA Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee: or to say, Arise, and walk?

YLT for which is easier? to say, The sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk?

Drby For which is easier: to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise up and walk?

RV For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?
(For whether is easier, to say, Thy/Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? )

SLT For why is it easier to say, Sins are let go to thee; or say, Arise and walk?

Wbstr For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

KJB-1769 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
( For whether is easier, to say, Thy/Your sins be forgiven thee/you; or to say, Arise, and walk? )

KJB-1611 For whether is easier to say, Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee: or to say, Arise, and walke?
(For whether is easier to say, Thy/Your sins be forgiven thee/you: or to say, Arise, and walke?)

Bshps Whether is easyer to say, thy sinnes be forgeuen thee? Or to say, aryse and walke?
(Whether is easier to say, thy/your sins be forgiven thee/you? Or to say, arise and walke?)

Gnva For whether is it easier to say, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee, or to say, Arise, and walke?
(For whether is it easier to say, Thy/Your sins are forgiven thee/you, or to say, Arise, and walke? )

Cvdl Whether ys it easier to saye: thy synnes be forgeue ye, or to saie: arise and walke?
(Whether is it easier to say: thy/your sins be forgive ye/you_all, or to saie: arise and walke?)

TNT Whether ys esyer to saye thy synnes be forgeven ye or to saye: arise and walke?
(Whether is esyer to say thy/your sins be forgiven ye/you_all or to say: arise and walke? )

Wycl What is liytere to seye, Thi synnes ben foryouun to thee, ethir `to seie, Rise thou, and walke?
(What is lightere to seye, Thy/Your sins been forgiven to thee/you, either to say, Rise thou/you, and walke?)

Luth Welches ist leichter zu sagen: Dir sind deine Sünden vergeben, oder zu sagen: Stehe auf und wandele?
(Whichs is easier to/for say: You(sg) are your sins(n) forgive, or to/for say: Stand on/in/to and walk?)

ClVg Quid est facilius dicere: Dimittuntur tibi peccata tua: an dicere: Surge, et ambula?[fn]
(What it_is easier to_say: Dimittuntur to_you sins your: an to_say: Get_up, and walk? )

9.5 Quid est. Nota infirmitates aliquando contingere propter peccata, etc., usque ad unde: Duplici contritione conteret eos Dominus. BED. Quid est facilius, sed quoniam hoc spirituale non creditis, probetur signo visibili quod non minoris constat esse potentiæ, ut in Filio hominis latentem cognoscatis potentiam majestatis, quæ potest dimittere peccata ut Deus.

9.5 What it_is. Note weaknesss sometimes contingere because sins, etc., until to from_where/who: Duplici breaking would_crush them Master. BED. What it_is easier, but since/because this spiritual not/no you_believe, approveur sign/seal(v) visibili that not/no minors it_is_agreed/certain to_be of_power, as in/into/on Filio of_man latentem let_him_knowis power majesty, which can to_release sins as God.

UGNT τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν, ἀφέωνται σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει?
(ti gar estin eukopōteron eipein, afeōntai sou hai hamartiai, aʸ eipein, egeire kai peripatei?)

SBL-GNT τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν· ⸀Ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν· ⸀Ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει;
(ti gar estin eukopōteron, eipein; ⸀Afientai sou hai hamartiai, aʸ eipein; ⸀Egeire kai peripatei;)

RP-GNT Τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν, Ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι· ἢ εἰπεῖν, Ἔγειραι καὶ περιπάτει;
(Ti gar estin eukopōteron, eipein, Afeōntai sou hai hamartiai; aʸ eipein, Egeirai kai peripatei;)

TC-GNT Τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν, [fn]Ἀφέωνταί [fn]σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι· ἢ εἰπεῖν, [fn]Ἔγειραι καὶ περιπάτει;
(Ti gar estin eukopōteron, eipein, Afeōntai sou hai hamartiai; aʸ eipein, Egeirai kai peripatei; )

9:5 αφεωνται ¦ αφιενται CT

9:5 σου ¦ σοι 𝔐^pt TR

9:5 εγειραι ¦ εγειρε ANT CT

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–8: Jesus forgave and healed a paralyzed man

In this section, Matthew continued to write about the power that Jesus has to heal people. But more importantly, he showed that Jesus also has the authority and power to forgive sins (9:6a). In addition, he again showed that faith is important.

When Jesus first told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven (9:2d), it began a conflict with the Jewish leaders. (This is the first time that Matthew showed a conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders.) This conflict continues in the next sections.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus healed a paralyzed man

Jesus has the power to forgive sins

Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic (NET)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:17–26.

9:5a–c

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’: Before translating 9:5a–c, there are at least three issues to consider:

Issue 1: Comparing two statements

The clause Which is easier introduces a question that compares two statements: sins are forgiven and Get up and walk. It is easier to say that sins are forgiven, because people cannot see whether sins are actually forgiven. The harder thing to say is Get up and walk. It is harder because everyone can immediately see whether a miracle happens.“Although it is certainly not easier to forgive sins than it is to heal disease, it is easier to pronounce the forgiveness of sins than to command someone to walk, this because only the latter can be objectively verified…. But Jesus, as the following verses show, can in fact heal the paralytic. So he can do the harder thing, and this should cause his critics to wonder whether he cannot also forgive sins….” (Davies and Allison, page 92).

Consider how people in your language would ask such a question.

Here are some other possible ways to translate this:

Is this easy to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or is this easy to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

Saying to the man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Rise and walk,’ between these two things, which one is easy?

I can say to the man, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ I can also say, ‘Rise and walk.’ Which one is easy and which one is difficult?

Issue 2: Rhetorical question

This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize that it is easier to say Your sins are forgiven. It is implied that the harder thing to say is Get up and walk. It is harder because everyone can immediately see whether a miracle happens.

Here are some other ways to translate this rhetorical question:

As a question. For example:
Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? (GW)
As a statement followed by a tag question. For example:
It is easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ than to say ‘Get up and walk.’ Isn’t that right?
As a statement. For example:
Consider whether it is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say ‘Rise and walk.’
It is easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ than to say ‘Rise and walk.’
It is easy to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ It is hard to say, ‘Rise and walk.’

Issue 3: Quotes with a quote

The two statements Your sins are forgiven and Get up and walk are quotes within a quote. In some languages, it may be more natural to make these two statements indirect speech. For example:

Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? (CEV)

9:5a

Which is easier:

Which of these is easier,
Consider^(plur) whether it is easier
It is easy

In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “for” (ESV). This conjunction probably introduces a basis for Jesus’ statement in 9:4b. The basis is given in 9:5a–6b. The relationship is something like the following:

^4aJesus told the scribes, ^4b“You should not think that I blasphemed God when I told this paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven, ^5abecause…^6aI have authority on earth to forgive sins.”

The BSB and many English versions do not translate this conjunction. In many languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

9:5b

to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’

to say, ‘Your^(sing) sins are forgiven,’
to tell him, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
to say, ‘I forgive your sins.’

Your sins are forgiven: This is a passive clause.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Use a passive verb. For example:
Your sins are forgiven/canceled
Use an active verb. For example:
I forgive/pardon your sins

9:5c

or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’

or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
or whether it is easier to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk.’
It is hard to say, ‘Stand up and walk.’

Get up: The phrase Get up is a command to stand up from the mat.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Rise (ESV)

Stand up (NET)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γάρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν ἀφίονται σοῦ Αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ἤ εἰπεῖν Ἔγειρε καί περιπάτει)

Here, the word For introduces a reason why the scribes should not be thinking evil in their hearts ([9:4](../09/04.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a claim, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [In fact,] or [I say that because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί & ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν, ἀφέωνται σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει?

which & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν ἀφίονται σοῦ Αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ἤ εἰπεῖν Ἔγειρε καί περιπάτει)

Jesus is using the question form to show the scribes which of these things is easier to say. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. He could mean: (1) that saying ‘Your sins have been forgiven’ is easier than saying ‘Get up and walk’. This is because it is easy to show that someone is lying when they fail to heal a paralytic, but it is not easy to show that someone is lying when they claim to forgive sins. Alternate translation: [it is easier to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven,’ than to say, ‘Get up and walk.] (2) that both things are equally easy to say. Alternate translation: [saying ‘Your sins have been forgiven’ is just as easy as saying, ‘Get up and walk.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

εἰπεῖν, ἀφέωνται σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει?

˓to˒_say ˓to˒_say (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν ἀφίονται σοῦ Αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ἤ εἰπεῖν Ἔγειρε καί περιπάτει)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this sentence so that there are no quotations within a quotation. Alternate translation: [to say that a person’s sins have been forgiven or to tell a person to get up and walk]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀφέωνται σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι

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, it is clear from the context that it is the person speaking. Alternate translation: [I have forgiven your sins]

Parallel MAT 9:5

Section 9:1–8: Jesus forgave and healed a paralyzed man

9:5a–c

9:5a

9:5b

9:5c