he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (Matthew 11:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 11:15:

  • Uma: “Whoever has ears, listen well!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Amey-amey (this expression intensifies an instruction or warning.) listen when you are told something.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This which you have heard, you must understand.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “You who are hearing, think about what you heard.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well since what ears are for is for listening with, it’s necessary that you listen well to this which I am saying.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “So now, have ears to listen to the word I speak.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 11:15

Most translations of this verse are fairly literal, as are Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The same saying is used twice again by Matthew (13.9, 43); similar exhortations are found in Mark 4.9, 23; Luke 8.8; 14.35; and Revelation 2.7, 11, 17, 29; 3.6, 13, 22; 13.9. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Whoever can hear, should listen well!” and New American Bible “Heed carefully what you hear!”

This sentence is not questioning whether or not the people have ears. No translation should give that impression. Rather its purpose is to make people pay attention to what was said. The New American Bible model cited above does that well. Other examples are “You have ears, don’t you? Then pay attention to what I am saying” or “You can hear, can’t you? Then listen to these things.”

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 .