Matthew 8

behold
Matthew uses the Greek interjection ἰδού (idou), translated as “behold,” in order to alert the reader to what follows; thus, the term is preserved in the translation.

was bowing down
The imperfect tense of προσκυνέω (proskuneō) is best rendered by the phrase “was bowing down” in contrast to “bowed down.” The imperfect tense presents an action that is in progress or that occurs over a period of time. In this case, Matthew’s portrayal helps to dramatize this remarkable moment for the readers.

good enough
The phrase “good enough” translates the Greek word ἱκανός (hikanos), which communicates the idea of being of sufficient ability, status, or qualification for something. In 3:11, John the Baptist admitted that he was not “fit” (ἱκανός; hikanos) to remove Jesus’ sandals, and in 2 Corinthians 2:16, Paul poses the question regarding the glories of gospel ministry, “who is sufficient [ἱκανός; hikanos] for these things?” The translation here as “good enough” rather than something like “worthy” helps to distinguish this word from ἄξιος (axios), which is typically translated as “worthy” in other New Testament contexts. Here, the Roman centurion recognizes that though he has a place of significant prominence in the Roman military force (the greatest force in the world at the time), he is not “good enough” even for Jesus to come under his roof. He understands who Jesus truly is—the Lord of all who has divine healing power at His command.

began waiting
The translation here renders the imperfect tense verb διηκόνει (diēkonei) as an inceptive imperfect. Matthew uses the imperfect in the same way in reference to the angels who began ministering to Jesus after His wilderness temptation in Matthew 4:11.

saying
The word “saying” is included here because it appears in the Greek text (λέγοντος; legontos). It is regularly used in Matthew as an introductory formula for Old Testament citations (cf. 1:22, 2:15, 17; 3:3; 4:14; 12:17; 21:4; 27:9).

was sleeping
Refer to the discussion on verse 2 above.

got Him up
The Greek verb used here is ἐγείρω (egeirō) which can mean to raise, to arouse, or to awake from sleep. It is translated here as “got Him up” to show consistency with other occurrences of the word (cf. Matt 1:24; 2:13, 14, 20, 21; 8:15; etc.), especially in the following verse, where Jesus “got up and rebuked the winds and the sea.”

cowardly
The translation of δειλός (deilos) as “cowardly” distinguishes it from a different word for “afraid” (φοβέω; phobeō) used elsewhere (e.g., 9:8; also cf. note on Mark 4:40). “Cowardly” is also more lexically accurate than “afraid” since the idea of cowardice better communicates a negative nuance than “fear,” especially when used in descriptions of unbelief (cf. Rev 21:8).

got up
Another occurrence of the Greek verb ἐγείρω (egeirō). Refer to the discussion on verse 25 above.

marveled
The word “marveled” is the Greek θαυμάζω (thaumazō). It is a key word throughout the Gospels and Acts, and in most occurrences it is used to describe people’s reaction to something said about Jesus or accomplished by Him which evidenced His deity and sovereign power (e.g., Matt 9:33; 15:31; 21:20; Mark 5:20; Luke 2:33; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14; etc.).

What do we have to do with You
The Greek Τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί (Ti hēmin kai soi; lit. “What to us and to You”) is a representation of the Hebrew idiom, מַה־לִּי וָלָךְ (mah-lli walakh; “what to me and to you”; see Judg 11:12; 1 Kings 17:18; 2 Kings 3:13; 2 Chr 35:21). It occurs six times in the New Testament, and is translated consistently as “what do I/we have to do with you” (cf. Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 4:34; 8:28; John 2:4). This idiom is often used when the interests or intentions of two people conflict, and depending on the context, the level of intensity can fluctuate. Here, the demons confronted Jesus because they were concerned that He would bring punishment upon them before the appointed time of final judgment.

behold
Refer to the discussion on verse 2 above.