complete verse (Matthew 2:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 2:22:

  • Uma: “But Yusuf heard that Arkelaus, the son of Herodes had replaced his father becoming king in the land of Yudea. That is why he was afraid to go there. From there, there was also a teaching of the Lord that Yusuf received in his dream. That is why they went to the land of Galilea,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But when Yusup heard that the son of Herod called Alkilas was now king in the place Yahudiya, he was afraid to go there. He was again informed in his dream and told to go to the place/country of Jalil.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Now when Joseph found out that the one who was king in Judea was Archelaus, who had succeeded his father Herod, they passed by the province of Judea because they were afraid. And since God caused Joseph to deam, advising him, they continued on to the province of Galilee.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But-then Jose heard that Arkelaus who was Herod’s child had replaced (the former ruler) to rule in Judea, after-that he was afraid to return. Since there was again that-which-was-instructed to him in his dream, they went to the province Galilea,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But when he’d heard news that Arquelao was the one who had succeeded his father Herodes, he now being the one ruling the district of Judea, he was afraid to return to Betlehem which was there in that district of Judea. Well since he was again caused to dream, as to what would be good for him to do, that’s why Galilea is where they went, that also being a district of Israel.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But he heard that Archelaus was the one who was now ruling over the place he wanted to go to. Because he had taken over the position of his father. So Joseph was afraid to go to that place, the land of Judah where that one was ruling. Again Joseph dreamed and he was told to go to the land of Galilea.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 2:22

But when: this may be “However, when…” or “But he heard that Archelaus reigned … Therefore he was afraid.”

The pronominal subject he is once again identified by Good News Translation: “Joseph.”

Reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod is restructured by Good News Translation to read “succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea.” After Herod’s death the land of Israel was divided into several provinces and placed under the authority of Herod’s sons. Archelaus was given the title of king and ruled over the provinces of Judea, Samaria, and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6. He was a cruel and despotic ruler.

Reigned over may be expressed by a phrase such as “was king of Judea in place of” or “had become king of Judea after his father Herod died.”

It may be necessary to specify that Judea was a province, as in “the region (or, territory) of Judea.”

And being warned in a dream, a participial construction in Greek, is rendered “was given more instructions in a dream” by Good News Translation. The agent of the passive structure being warned would be either the Lord or an angel of the Lord. In light of verses 13, 19, and 20, the meaning most likely intended is “an angel of the Lord gave Joseph more instructions.” Warned translates the same verb used in verse 12. Being warned in a dream can be translated by a passive in some languages, as Good News Translation has done. Another example is “He had a dream and was told what to do.” Other translators will prefer an active construction, as in the above paragraph, where “an angel” is stated explicitly. Perhaps “an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him not to go there.”

Withdrew is generally translated as “went” or “moved.”

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 .