Any one is translated “one of the occupation troops” by Good News Translation. The basis for this rendering is the verb forces, which in Greek is a technical term used of pressing into service, whether military or civil. Elsewhere in the New Testament the verb is used only of Simon from Cyrene, whom the Roman soldiers forced to carry Jesus’ cross to the place of execution (27.32; Mark 15.21). Most translations use forces, but others attempt to reflect the cultural situation: Jerusalem Bible (“And if anyone orders you to go one mile”), New English Bible (“If a man in authority makes you to go one mile”), New American Bible (“Should anyone press you into service for one mile”), and Barclay (“And if a Roman officer commandeers you to act as a baggage-porter for one mile”).

In addition to these models, other ways to handle forces include “if anyone makes you help him on the road” or “if anyone makes you carry his things.”

The mile referred to is a Roman mile (equal to 4,854 feet or 1,478.5 meters). Many translations have apparently maintained the literal mile, even in situations where the metric system is employed. However, in place of one mile … two miles Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates: “a far distance … twice as far.” One mile was presumably the distance a Roman soldier could force a Jew to carry his equipment. What is important here is not the exact distance, but the relation between one mile and two miles. Even if readers do not know exactly how far a mile is, they may well seize the intent of what Jesus is saying even if “mile” is translated literally. Nevertheless, many translators have said “one kilometer” and “two kilometers” simply to avoid introducing an unknown word, “mile.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .