OET interlinear HEB 1:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι

many_ways and many_ways long_ago

Here, the phrase In many portions shows that God did not speak just once. Rather, he spoke often throughout the time period called long ago. Then, the phrase in many ways shows that God used various means and people to speak to the fathers. The author uses both of these phrases because he wishes to emphasize the variety of times and ways in which God has spoken. If your language does not use repetition for emphasis, and if you cannot represent the author’s two phrases well, you could express the idea using one phrase that emphasizes variety. Alternate translation: “Long ago, with great variety” or “Long ago, using multiple methods in different times,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι, ὁ Θεὸς, λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις

many_ways and many_ways long_ago ¬the God /having/_spoken ˱to˲_the fathers in the prophets

Here, the phrase In many portions and in many ways long ago describes how God “spoke” to our fathers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could rearrange the phrases so that In many portions and in many ways long ago does modify having spoken. Alternate translation: “God, having spoken to our fathers through the prophets in many portions and in many ways long ago”

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

λαλήσας

/having/_spoken

Here, the phrase having spoken introduces an action that took place before the actions that take place in the next verse (1:2). Use a form that introduces action that takes place before something else. Alternate translation: “after speaking”

Note 4 topic: translate-kinship

τοῖς πατράσιν

˱to˲_the fathers

Here, the phrase our fathers refers to the Israelites who were alive before Jesus lived on earth. Not all members of the audience were descended from these Israelites. However, the author can still refer to the Israelites as their fathers because he thinks that all Christians have been included in the family of Abraham, the ancestor of the Israelites. If possible, preserve the family language in your translation. Alternate translation: “our forefathers” or “to the Israelite ancestors”