OET interlinear MAT 3:11

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς μετάνοιαν

to repentance

Here, the phrase for repentance could describe: (1) the purpose for which John baptizes people. Alternate translation: “so that you repent” (2) what John’s baptism represents or signifies. Alternate translation: “with reference to repentance” or “to show your repentance”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς μετάνοιαν

to repentance

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of repentance, you could express the same idea in another way. Make sure your translation fits with the option you chose in the previous note. Alternate translation: “in order that you might repent” or “to show that you have repented”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ & ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος

the_‹one› & after me coming

Here John speaks as if someone is walking behind him. He could mean that: (1) soon someone will continue what John has started doing. Alternate translation: “the one who will preach after I have” (2) one of his own disciples will become greater than he. Alternate translation: “one of my disciples”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

μού

me

John is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “I am”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς τὰ ὑποδήματα βαστάσαι

not ˱I˲_am worthy the sandals /to/_bear

Here, to carry someone’s sandals was a duty of a slave. John means that he is not worthy to be a slave to this person who is coming after him. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “I am not worthy to be the slave who carries away his sandals” or “I am not worthy to act as his slave”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί

he you_all /will_be/_baptizing in /the/_Spirit Holy and ˱with˲_fire

Here John indicates that the one coming after him will cause people to experience the Holy Spirit and fire, just as John caused people to experience water in baptism. If possible, preserve the baptism metaphor or express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: “He will baptize you, as it were, with the Holy Spirit and with fire” or “He also will perform something like baptism, but he will use the Holy Spirit and fire”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί

in in /the/_Spirit Holy and ˱with˲_fire

Here, the word fire could be: (1) a reference to how Jesus will purify people. Alternate translation: “with the Holy Spirit and purifying fire” (2) a reference to how Jesus will punish people. Alternate translation: “with the Holy Spirit and with fiery punishment” (3) a further description of the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: “with the fire that is the Holy Spirit”