knock

The Greek that is translated as “knock (on a door)” in English is translated as “call” (Zanaki, Yanesha’) “speak” (Tzeltal), or “clap” (Zarma).

This is sometimes due to the fact that doors are not being used in the respective cultures (as, for instance, in Yanesha’) or, as Nida (p. 45f.) explains, other cultural differences:

“One cannot say to the Zanaki people along the winding shores of sprawling Lake Victoria, ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock’ (Revelation 3:20). This would mean that Christ was declaring Himself to be a thief, for in Zanaki land thieves generally make it a practice to knock on the door of a hut which they hope to burglarize; and if they hear any movement or noise inside, they dash off into the dark. An honest man will come to a house and call the name of the person inside, and in this way identify himself by his voice. Accordingly, in the Zanaki translation it is necessary to say, ‘Behold I stand at the door and call.’ This wording might be slightly strange to us, but the meaning is the same. In each case Christ is asking people to open the door. He is no thief and He will not force an entrance; He knocks — and in Zanaki “He calls.” If anything the Zanaki expression is a little more personal than our own.”

Sources: Nida 1952 (Zanaki); Duff Tripp, p. 310 (Yanesha’); Reiling / Swellengrebel (Tzeltal, Zarma).

See also complete verse (Rev. 3:20) and knock (Rev. 3:20).

everyone who searches finds

The now commonly-used German idiom er (da) sucht, der findet (literally “whoever searches will find”), which today is primarily used as an encouragement to actively engage in finding solutions, was coined 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 113)

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

complete verse (Matthew 7:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 7:8:

  • Uma: “Because whoever asks is definitely given to. Whoever searches definitely receives. Whoever asks for the door to be opened, the door is definitely opened for him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For all who ask will be given, the ones who seek will find and the ones who ask to be let in will be opened for.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because all who ask for something from God are able to receive. Those who are looking for something are able to find it. And he who calls out at the door, God also opens it for him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because whoever (lit. even who) makes-requests to God will be given-to, and whoever searches will find what he is looking for. Also whoever knocks, the doorway will be opened for him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because as-many-as request are given to. The ones who search can find. And as-many-as plead to be permitted to enter receive-a-favorable-response.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because the person who asks for what he wants will be given it. He who hunts will find. He who knocks on the door will have it opened.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 7:7-12)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 7:7-12:

Keep knocking until God opens the door for you,
as he always does for someone who doesn’t give up.
       Ask and receive—seek and find—that’s how it works.

Although you’re evil, you’re still good to your children.
If they were hungry for fish and chips,
       you’d never feed them snakes and stones.

Your Father above is goodness personified
       and will gladly do good for anyone who asks.

What’s the Bible all about? I’ll tell you —
       Treat others the way you want them to treat you.

Translation commentary on Matthew 7:7 – 7:8

The three imperatives (Ask … seek … knock) are probably intended to be emphatic. In Greek they are present imperatives and may carry the force of “keep on asking … seeking … knocking” (so Barclay). Commentators point out that the imagery of knocking on a door has associations in Judaism with the study of the Law and its interpretation and with prayers for God’s mercy.

Many languages cannot say simply Ask but must specify who is being asked, and possibly what is being asked for. They would then say “Ask God” or “Ask God for what you need.” In this context Ask means to ask for, not to ask a question.

To seek means to look for, to try to find a particular thing. It is not God we are to seek in this verse, but rather we are to look to him for what we want. Thus it could be rendered “seek what you are looking for” or “seek from God what you are looking for.”

Knock refers to a way of asking that a door be opened. One cannot say “knock on God,” but it may be possible to say “knock on the door where God is” or “knock on the door that God opens.”

In many African cultures people do not normally knock on doors to request the people inside to open them. Quite often, only thieves would knock on doors (waiting to hear any noise inside before entering to steal), so the translators need to say either “ask for the door to be opened” or “clap (or cough, or call) at the door.” If the image of knocking at a door makes no sense, translators can add “to ask God’s help.”

The two passive structures (will be given to you … will be opened to you) presuppose God as the subject: “God will give you … God will open the door for you.” The last clause may be rendered accordingly: “Knock, and God will open the door for you.”

Find in this context means to find on purpose, not by accident. The phrase may be translated as “you will have (or, obtain) it” or “God will let you obtain it.”

As with Ask and seek, it may be necessary to provide objects for will be given and you will find. Thus “Ask God for what you need and he will give it to you” or “seek what you are looking for and God will let you find it” are possible ways to restructure. Similarly, translators can say “knock on God’s door and he will open it for you” or “knock on the door where God is, and he will open it and help you.” The translation can also be “… and he will open it so you can enter.”

It should be noted that this teaching is not intended to make prayer into a magical ritual, nor is it to suggest that one can coerce God into acting. The real emphasis is upon the certainty that God will answer the prayer, and that it is a prayer that every one can pray.

Scholars observe that verse 8 is in the form of a proverbial saying, as is 6.34.

Translators should use the same expressions in verse 8 that they did in verse 7. Translators should not modify what Jesus says. The language is quite absolute. It does not say “will receive something” or “will receive things that God feels we need,” but it says that God will give to those who ask (what they are asking for).

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 .