OET interlinear MAT 3:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

δὲ

but

Here, the word Now introduces the next major 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 / explicit

ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ

to the baptism ˱of˲_him

Here, the phrase for his baptism could indicate that the Pharisees and Sadducees are coming: (1) so that they can receive John’s baptism. Alternate translation: “to receive his baptism” (2) to the place where John is baptizing. Alternate translation: “to where he was baptizing” or “to the place of his baptism”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ

to the baptism ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of baptism, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “to be baptized by him”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἰδὼν δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων ἐρχομένους ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς γενήματα ἐχιδνῶν τίς ὑπέδειξεν ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς)

The expression Offspring of is an idiom that means a person shares the qualities of something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “You are like vipers” or “You have the qualities of vipers”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἰδὼν δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων ἐρχομένους ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς γενήματα ἐχιδνῶν τίς ὑπέδειξεν ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς)

Here John speaks of the Pharisees and Sadducees as if they were like vipers (see the previous note for the meaning of the phrase Offspring of). He means that they are evil and hurt other people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “You are like poisonous creatures” or “You evil people”

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ἐχιδνῶν

˱of˲_vipers

If your readers would not recognize the name vipers, which refers to dangerous poisonous snakes, you could state something more general. Alternate translation: “of poisonous snakes” or “of poisonous animals”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τίς ὑπέδειξεν ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς?

who warned ˱to˲_you_all /to/_flee from the coming wrath

John is using the question form to rebuke the Pharisees and Sadducees for coming to be baptized by him when they really do not believe that they need to flee from the coming wrath. In other words, they want to be baptized, but they do not think that they need to repent of anything. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “I realize that you do not really think that you need to flee from the coming wrath!” or “You do not actually believe that you must flee from the coming wrath.”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς

the coming wrath

Here, the word wrath refers to how God will punish people who do not believe and who disobey him. The word coming means that the wrath will happen soon. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “the future punishment” or “the punishment that God will soon inflict”