OET interlinear COL 3:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

οὖν

therefore

Here, the word therefore introduces an exhortation based on previous statements. In this case, Paul bases his exhortation on what he has said about the Colossians’ union with Christ and its end goal: being revealed with him in glory. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable connecting word or express the idea with a phrase that refers back to what Paul has already said. Alternate translation: “because of your union with Christ”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

νεκρώσατε οὖν

make_dead therefore

If your language would normally put a transition word like therefore at the beginning of the sentence, you could move it there in your translation. Alternate translation: “Therefore, put to death”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νεκρώσατε & τὰ μέλη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

make_dead & your members which_‹are› on the earth

Here Paul speaks of the members as if they were people that one could kill or Put to death. By using this metaphor, he wants to show the Colossians that the evil desires he lists should be treated as enemies and dealt with as harshly as possible. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “Eliminate … the members that are on the earth”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὰ μέλη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

your members which_‹are› on the earth

Paul here speaks of sins as if they were members or limbs of the body that are part of the person on the earth. What this metaphor means is that these sins can be so much a part of a person while they are living on earth that getting rid of them is like cutting off an arm or leg. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “the sins that have become part of you while you live on earth”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρία;

sexual_immorality impurity passion desire evil and ¬the greediness which is idolatry

If your language would not use abstract nouns to express the ideas behind immorality, uncleanness, passion, desire, envy, and idolatry, you could rephrase this sentence and use adjectives or verbs to express the idea. Alternate translation: “behaving in ways that are sexually immoral, unclean, wrongly emotional, lustful, and envious, which is idolatrous”

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ἀκαθαρσίαν

impurity

The word uncleanness describes morally dirty or impure behavior. This is a general term that covers many sins that would make one unclean, that is, that would make other people avoid one. If you have a comparable expression in your language, you could use it here, or you could express the idea with a short phrase. Alternate translation: “unclean behavior” or “disgusting acts”

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

πάθος

passion

The word passion refers to negative emotions that are triggered by outside events. Examples would include forms of anger and jealousy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that these are improper emotions, since Paul is not saying that all emotions are wrong. Alternate translation: “improper emotions” or “evil passions”

Note 8 topic: translate-unknown

ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν

desire evil

The word desire refers to longing after something, often in a sexual context. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable word or express the idea with a short phrase. Alternate translation: “evil lust” or “evil longing”

Note 9 topic: translate-unknown

τὴν πλεονεξίαν

¬the greediness

Here Paul uses the word envy to refer to wanting more than one needs, especially wanting more than what others have. If you have a comparable term, you could use if here, or you could express the idea with a short phrase. Alternate translation: “desiring to have more than what others have”

Note 10 topic: writing-pronouns

ἥτις

which

Here, which refers back to envy only, not to other items in the list. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that which refers to envy. Alternate translation: “and envy”