translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: MAT

label: NET translator note

text: Grk “And answering again, Jesus spoke.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.


text: See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9 .


text: Grk “Behold, I have prepared my dinner.” In some contexts, however, to translate ἄριστον ( ariston ) as “dinner” somewhat misses the point. L&N 23.22 here suggests, “See now, the feast I have prepared (for you is ready).”


text: Here δέ ( de ) has not been translated.


text: Grk “he sent his soldiers, destroyed those murderers.” The verb ἀπώλεσεν ( apwlesen ) is causative, indicating that the king was the one behind the execution of the murderers. In English the causative idea is not expressed naturally here; either a purpose clause (“he sent his soldiers to put those murderers to death”) or a relative clause (“he sent his soldier who put those murderers to death”) is preferred.


text: The Greek text reads here πόλις ( polis ), which could be translated “town” or “city.” The prophetic reference is to the city of Jerusalem, so “city” is more appropriate here.


text: Grk “he was silent.”


text: Grk “trap him in word.”


text: Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”


text: Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν ( exestin ) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.


text: According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος ( khnso" ) was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government. sn This question concerning taxes was specifically designed to trap Jesus. If he answered yes, then his opponents could publicly discredit him as a sympathizer with Rome. If he answered no, then they could go to the Roman governor and accuse Jesus of rebellion.


text: Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).


text: Here δέ ( de ) has been translated as “so” to indicate their response to Jesus’ request for a coin.


text: Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. In other places δηνάριον ( dhnarion ) has been translated simply as “silver coin” with an explanatory note. sn A denarius was a silver coin worth approximately one day’s wage for a laborer. The fact that they had such a coin showed that they already operated in the economic world of Rome. The denarius would have had a picture of Tiberius Caesar stamped on it.


text: Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί ( kai ) has not been translated.


text: Or “whose likeness.” sn In this passage Jesus points to the image ( Grk εἰκών , eikwn ) of Caesar on the coin. This same Greek word is used in Gen 1:26 (LXX) to state that humanity is made in the “image” of God. Jesus is making a subtle yet powerful contrast: Caesar’s image is on the denarius, so he can lay claim to money through taxation, but God’s image is on humanity, so he can lay claim to each individual life.


text: Grk “they said to him.”


text: Grk “then he said to them.” τότε ( tote ) has not been translated to avoid redundancy.


text: Grk “they were amazed; they marveled.”


text: Grk “and asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες ( legontes ) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.


text: Grk “and raise up seed,” an idiom for fathering children (L&N 23.59).


text: Here δέ ( de ) has not been translated.


text: Grk “For all had her.”


text: Grk “And answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.


text: Or “mistaken” (cf. BDAG 822 s.v. πλανάω 2.c. γ ).


text: Grk “spoken to you by God, saying.” The participle λέγοντος ( legontos ) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.


text: Grk “for the same.” That is, for the same purpose that the Sadducees had of testing Jesus.


text: Traditionally, “a lawyer.” This was an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law.


text: Grk “testing.” The participle, however, is telic in force.


text: Or possibly “What sort of commandment in the law is great?”


text: Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ ( de ) has not been translated.


text: Grk “You will love.” The future indicative is used here with imperatival force (see ExSyn 452 and 569).


text: Grk “the great and first.”


text: Grk “hang.” The verb κρεμάννυμι ( kremannumi ) is used here with a figurative meaning (cf. BDAG 566 s.v. 2 .b).


text: Grk “asked them a question, saying.” The participle λέγων ( legwn ) is somewhat redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.


text: Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” sn See the note on Christ in 1:16 .


text: Grk “how is he his son?”


text: Here καί ( kai ) has not been translated.