tenants (of a vineyard) / winegrower

The Greek that is translated as “tenants (of a vineyard)” or similar in English is translated in the Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) as Winzer and in Luxembourghish as Wënzer, both “winemaker (vintner).” The area were Pfälzisch and Luxembourghish are spoken are traditional wine making areas and this is the commonly used term.

The same term is also used in John 15:1 for (English) “winegrower.” (Source: Zetzsche)

complete verse (Matthew 21:35)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 21:35:

  • Uma: “But the workers in the field grabbed/caught the slaves whom he had sent: there were some whom they beat, some whom they threw stones at, there were also some whom they killed.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When his servants arrived there, they were seized by the caretakers. One was beaten by them, one was killed and one was thrown stones at.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when his servants arrived, these who were caring for the vineyard beat up one of them. And they killed another, and still another, they threw stones at.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But when these slaves arrived, the tenant-farmers (lit. those-who-took-care) whipped one, they killed one, and they threw-stones-at one until he died.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But those left in charge set on those slaves who had been sent. They clubbed-the-head of one, killed the second, the third they kept throwing rocks at.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But the workers who were at the field grabbed the servants of the field-owner and mistreated them. Some they killed, some they stoned.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 21:35

One obvious difference between Matthew and the texts of Mark and Luke is that Matthew uses the plural of servants, while Mark and Luke both retain the singular. This is in keeping with the allegorical intention of Matthew, who sees in the group of servants the representation of the prophets.

Beat one, killed another, and stoned another also differs markedly from Mark and Luke, according to which the mistreatment of the owner’s representatives is done to one of them at a time, in an ascending degree of injury and insult.

Stoned can mean the tenants threw stones at the servant, but the word was generally used to mean they killed someone in this way. If it is possible to remain neutral on this point, as English is, that may be best. “Attacked with stones” is a way to do 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 .