OET interlinear MAT 3:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

οὗ τὸ πτύον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ; καὶ διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνάξει τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην; τὸ δὲ ἄχυρον κατακαύσει πυρὶ ἀσβέστῳ

˱of˲_whom the winnowing_fork_‹is› in the hand ˱of˲_him and ˱he˲_/will_be/_clearing_out the threshing_floor ˱of˲_him and /will_be/_gathering_together the wheat ˱of˲_him into the barn the but chaff ˱he˲_/will_be/_burning_up ˱with˲_fire inextinguishable

In this verse, John describes the one who comes after him as a farmer who separates the useful grains of wheat from the other parts of the wheat plant by using a winnowing fork to clear of his threshing floor. Just as that farmer separates the grain from the chaff, so the one who comes after John will separate those who obey from those who do not. Just as that farmer saves the grain and burns up the chaff, so the one who comes after John will save those who obey and punish those who do not. If possible, preserve this metaphor. If necessary, you could use simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who is like a farmer with a winnowing fork in his hand. He will separate those who obey God from those who do not, just as a farmer thoroughly clears off his fleshing floor. He will save those who obey and punish those who disobey, just as a farmer gathers his wheat into the storehouse and burns up the chaff with unquenchable fire” or “who is ready to act, and he will separate those who obey God from those who disobey God. He will save those who obey and completely punish those who disobey”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οὗ τὸ πτύον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ

˱of˲_whom the winnowing_fork_‹is› in the hand ˱of˲_him

Here, the phrase in his hand indicates that a person is ready to use whatever is in his or her hand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who has picked up his winnowing fork” or “who is ready to use his winnowing fork”

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τὸ πτύον

the winnowing_fork_‹is›

A winnowing fork is a tool for tossing wheat into the air to separate the wheat grain from the chaff. The heavier grain falls back down, and the wind blows away the unwanted chaff. This tool is similar to a pitchfork. If you have a similar tool in your culture, you can use the word for it here. Otherwise, you can use a phrase that would express the meaning. Alternate translation: “tool for winnowing grain” or “tool for tossing seeds”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ

the threshing_floor ˱of˲_him

The threshing floor was the place where harvested wheat was processed to separate the grain from the chaff. To clear off the floor is to finish threshing and winnowing all the grain. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to where threshing happens in your culture, or you could use a descriptive phrase. Alternate translation: “the place where he separates the grain from the chaff”