OET interlinear MARK 1:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης, ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καὶ κηρύσσων

became John the_‹one› baptizing in the desert and proclaiming

Here, the phrase translated the one baptizing could be: (1) a description of what John did, in parallel with the word preaching. Alternate translation: “John came. He was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching” (2) a title (“the Baptist”) that people called John. Alternate translation: “John the Baptist came in the wilderness, preaching”

Note 2 topic: writing-participants

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης

became John

This phrase introduces a new character into the story. If your language has an expression of its own that serves this purpose, you could use it here. Alternate translation: “There was a man named John” or “A man called John appeared”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν

proclaiming /a/_baptism ˱of˲_repentance for forgiveness ˱of˲_sins

It may be more natural in your language to have a direct quotation here. Alternate translation: “preaching, ‘Receive a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.’”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας

proclaiming /a/_baptism ˱of˲_repentance

Here Mark implies that John was preaching that people should undergo a baptism of repentance. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “preaching that people should receive a baptism of repentance” or “preaching that people should ask to receive a baptism of repentance”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν

/a/_baptism ˱of˲_repentance for forgiveness ˱of˲_sins

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas behind repentance and forgiveness, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: “that people should be baptized to show that they had repented, so that their sins would be forgiven”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

βάπτισμα μετανοίας

/a/_baptism ˱of˲_repentance

Here, Mark is using the possessive form to describe a baptism that shows or expresses repentance. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “a baptism that expresses repentance” or “a baptism that demonstrates repentance”

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν

for forgiveness ˱of˲_sins

Here, the phrase for the forgiveness of sins indicates the goal of the baptism of repentance. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that indicates the goal of an action. Alternate translation: “that would lead to forgiveness of sins”