OET interlinear MAT 3:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

and

Here, the word Now introduces the next event in the story. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next event, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: “Then,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

βαπτισθεὶς

/having_been/_baptized

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was John. Alternate translation: “John having baptized him”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀνέβη ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος

went_up from the water

Here Matthew implies that Jesus was in the River Jordan when he was baptized. Afterwards, he came up out of the river. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “left the water of the river” or “stepped out of the river”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

ἰδοὺ

behold

Here, the word behold draws the attention of the audience and asks them to listen carefully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express behold with a word or phrase that asks the audience to listen, or you could draw the audience’s attention in another way. Alternate translation: “picture this” or “suddenly”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ οὐρανοί

/were/_opened_up (Some words not found in SR-GNT: βαπτισθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εὐθὺς ἀνέβη ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνεῴχθησαν οἱ οὐρανοί καὶ εἶδεν τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν καὶ ἐρχόμενον ἐπʼ αὐτόν)

People in Matthew’s culture often spoke of how the heavens had doors or gates that led into them. Matthew uses this kind of language (doors being opened) to indicate that Jesus saw into the heavens. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “he was enabled to look into the heavens” or “God showed him what was happening in the heavens”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ οὐρανοί

/were/_opened_up (Some words not found in SR-GNT: βαπτισθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εὐθὺς ἀνέβη ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνεῴχθησαν οἱ οὐρανοί καὶ εἶδεν τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν καὶ ἐρχόμενον ἐπʼ αὐτόν)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: “God opened the heavens to him”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν

the Spirit ¬the ˱of˲_God coming_down as_if /a/_dove

The phrase like a dove could mean: (1) the Spirit looked like a dove as he descended upon Jesus. Alternate translation: “the Spirit of God coming down, looking like a dove” (2) the Spirit descended upon Jesus as a dove descends from the sky toward the ground. Alternate translation: “the Spirit of God coming down as a dove flies down”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καταβαῖνον

coming_down

Here Matthew implies that the Spirit of God came down from the heavens. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “coming down from the heavens”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐρχόμενον ἐπ’ αὐτόν

coming on him

Here Matthew implies that the Spirit of God settled or landed on Jesus, just like a bird might settle or land on something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “perching upon him” or “settling on him”