OET interlinear MAT 5:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις

˱it˲_/was/_said ˱to˲_the ancients

Here Jesus quotes from the Old Testament scriptures, specifically from Exodus 20:13 or Deuteronomy 5:17. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could format these words in a different way and include this information in a footnote. Alternate translation: “the ancient ones were commanded in the law”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐρρέθη

˱it˲_/was/_said

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 speaking through Moses. Alternate translation: “God said” or “Moses said”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῖς ἀρχαίοις

˱to˲_the ancients

Here, the phrase the ancient ones refers to the ancestors of the Jewish people to whom Jesus was speaking. The phrase most specifically refers to the Israelites who received the law at Mount Sinai. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “to the Israelites who lived long ago”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

οὐ φονεύσεις

not ˱you˲_/will_be/_murdering

Since the author of the quotation is addressing each specific person who is part of God’s people, the command here is singular. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “Each of you, do not kill”

Note 5 topic: writing-quotations

δ’

and

Here, the word and introduces Jesus’ summary of what the law required when someone committed murder. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a form that clarifies that this is a summary, not a direct quotation from the Old Testament. Alternate translation: “and they were told” or “and they followed this principle:”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει

liable will_be ˱to˲_the judgment

Here Jesus implies that the person who kills deserves to be judged and also punished by other people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “will be subject to judgment and punishment” or “deserves to be judged and punished”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ κρίσει

˱to˲_the judgment

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of judgment, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “being judged” or “human authorities who will judge him or her”