Matthew 14
14
The Death of John the Baptist
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch#sn A tetrarch, a ruler with rank and authority lower than a king, ruled only with the approval of the Roman authorities. This was roughly equivalent to being governor of a region. Several times in the NT, Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, is called a king (Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14-29), reflecting popular usage rather than an official title. heard reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him,#tc ‡ Most witnesses (א2 C D L W Z Θ 0106 Ë1,13 33 Ï lat) read αὐτόν (auton, “him”) here as a way of clarifying the direct object; various important witnesses lack the word, however (א* B 700 pc ff1 h q). The original wording most likely lacked it, but it has been included here due to English style. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity. and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had repeatedly told#tn The imperfect tense verb is here rendered with an iterative force. him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”#sn This marriage of Herod to his brother Philip’s wife was a violation of OT law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). In addition, both Herod Antipas and Herodias had each left marriages to enter into this union. 5 Although#tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated. Herod#tn Grk “he”; the referent (Herod) has been specified in the translation for clarity. wanted to kill John,#tn Grk “him” (also in the following phrase, Grk “accepted him”); in both cases the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity. he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath#tn The Greek text reads here ὁμολογέω (Jomologew); though normally translated “acknowledge, confess,” BDAG (708 s.v. 1) lists “assure, promise with an oath” for certain contexts such as here. to give her whatever she asked. 8 Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 Although it grieved the king,#tn Grk “and being grieved, the king commanded.”sn Herod was technically not a king, but this reflects popular usage. See the note on tetrarch in 14:1. because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 10 So#tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative. he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His#tn Grk “And his”; the referent (John the Baptist) has been specified in the translation for clarity. head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then John’s#tn Grk “his”; the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.” disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it,#tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context. they followed him on foot from the towns.#tn Or “cities.” 14 As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, “This is an isolated place#tn Or “a desert” (meaning a deserted or desolate area with sparse vegetation). and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But he#tc ‡ The majority of witnesses read ᾿Ιησοῦς (Ihsous, “Jesus”) here, perhaps to clarify the subject. Although only a few Greek mss, along with several versional witnesses (א* D Zvid 579 1424 pc e k sys,c,p sa bo), lack the name of Jesus, the omission does not seem to be either accidental or malicious and is therefore judged to be most likely the original reading. Nevertheless, a decision is difficult. NA27 has the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity. replied, “They don’t need to go. You#tn Here the pronoun ὑμεῖς (Jumeis) is used, making “you” in the translation emphatic. give them something to eat.” 17 They#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. said to him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 “Bring them here to me,” he replied. 19 Then#tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.” he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples,#tn Grk “And after instructing the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass, after taking the five loaves and the two fish, after looking up to heaven, he gave thanks, and after breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples.” Although most of the participles are undoubtedly attendant circumstance, there are but two indicative verbs – “he gave thanks” and “he gave.” The structure of the sentence thus seems to focus on these two actions and has been translated accordingly. who in turn gave them to the crowds.#tn Grk “to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.” 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full. 21 Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.
Walking on Water
22 Immediately Jesus#tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. 23 And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land,#tn Grk “The boat was already many stades from the land.” A stade (στάδιον, stadion) was a unit of distance about 607 feet (187 meters) long. was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. 25 As the night was ending,#tn Grk “In the fourth watch of the night,” that is, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Jesus came to them walking on the sea.#tn Or “on the lake.” 26 When#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. the disciples saw him walking on the water#tn Grk “on the sea”; or “on the lake.” The translation “water” has been used here for stylistic reasons (cf. the same phrase in v. 25). they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. 27 But immediately Jesus#tc Most witnesses have ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (Jo Ihsous, “Jesus”), while a few lack the words (א* D 073 892 pc ff1 syc sa bo). Although such additions are often suspect (due to liturgical influences, piety, or for the sake of clarity), in this case it is likely that ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς dropped out accidentally. Apart from a few albeit important witnesses, as noted above, the rest of the tradition has either ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς αὐτοῖς (Jo Ihsous autois) or αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (autois Jo Ihsous). In uncial letters, with Jesus’ name as a nomen sacrum, this would have been written as autoisois_ or ois_autois. Thus homoioteleuton could explain the reason for the omission of Jesus’ name. spoke to them:#tn Grk “he said to them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant and has not been translated. “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 Peter#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. said to him,#tn Grk “answering him, Peter said.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqeis) is redundant and has not been translated. “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” 29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out,#tn Grk “he cried out, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant and has not been translated. “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.#sn Gennesaret was a fertile plain south of Capernaum (see also Mark 6:53). The Sea of Galilee was also sometimes known as the Sea of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1). 35 When the people#tn Grk “men”; the word here (ἀνήρ, anhr) usually indicates males or husbands, but occasionally is used in a generic sense of people in general, as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 1.a, 2). there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him. 36 They begged him if#tn Grk “asked that they might touch.” they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
Matthew 14
14
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2and said to his servants, This is John the baptist: he is risen from the dead, and because of this these works of power display their force in him. 3For Herod had seized John, and had bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother. 4For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5And while desiring to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him for a prophet. 6But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod; 7whereupon he promised with oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. 8But she, being set on by her mother, says, Give me here upon a dish the head of John the baptist. 9And the king was grieved; but on account of the oaths, and those lying at table with him, he commanded it to be given. 10And he sent and beheaded John in the prison; 11and his head was brought upon a dish, and was given to the damsel, and she carried it to her mother. 12And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and came and brought word to Jesus.
13And Jesus, having heard it, went away thence by ship to a desert place apart. And the crowds having heard of it followed him on foot from the cities. 14And going out he saw a great crowd, and was moved with compassion about them, and healed their infirm. 15But when even was come, his disciples came to him saying, The place is desert, and much of the day time already gone by; dismiss the crowds, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves. 16But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give ye them to eat. 17But they say to him, We have not here save five loaves and two fishes. 18And he said, Bring them here to me. 19And having commanded the crowds to recline upon the grass, having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed: and having broken the loaves, he gave themto the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was over and above of fragments twelve hand-baskets full. 21But those that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22And immediately he compelled the disciples to go on board ship, and to go on before him to the other side, until he should have dismissed the crowds. 23And having dismissed the crowds, he went up into the mountain apart to pray. And when even was come, he was alone there, 24but the ship was already in the middle of the sea tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25But in the fourth watch of the night he went off to them, walking on the sea. 26And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear. 27But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage; it is I: be not afraid. 28And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come to thee upon the waters. 29And he said, Come. And Peter, having descended from the ship, walked upon the waters to go to Jesus. 30But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, and says to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? 32And when they had gone up into the ship, the wind fell. 33But those in the ship came and did homage to him, saying, Truly thou art God's Son.
34And having crossed over they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognised him, they sent to that whole country around, and they brought to him all that were ill, 36and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made thoroughly well.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.