complete verse (Matthew 25:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 25:28:

  • Uma: “The noble also said to another ordered-one: ‘Take the money from him, give it to the one who has ten thousand.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then he said to his other servants, ‘Take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand pesos.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he said to another servant, ‘Take the thousand away from him, and give it to the one who was able to get ten thousand.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he said to his other servants, ‘Get his talent so you will then give it to the one who has ten talents.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And then that master said to his other slaves, ‘Go ahead, take that one thousand from him and add it to the one who got ten thousand.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Then the boss said to the workers who were standing there: ‘Concerning this worker here, take away the one thousand monies he has. Give that money to the worker who is holding the ten thousand monies.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 25:28

So (Good News Translation “Now”) translates the same particle used in verse 27 (“Then”).

The Greek text does not state to whom it was that the servant’s master gave the command, but some languages may require that this information be made explicit: “Then the master of that servant said to some (or, one) of his other servants, ‘Take the money away….’ ”

Apparently the first two servants showed the master what they had earned, but they had not (yet) turned it over to him, because here the text says the servant has the ten talents. Verse 29 confirms this.

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 .