OET interlinear ACTs 15:20

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-versebridge

James lists four regulations in this verse and he gives the reason for them in the next verse. To put the reason before the result, you could create a verse bridge for verses 19–21. It might say something like this: “Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. However, since Moses has had those proclaiming him in every city from ancient generations—he is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath—we should write to the Gentiles to abstain from the pollution of idols and sexual immorality and strangled things and blood.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων

˱from˲_the pollutions ¬the ˱of˲_idols

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of pollution, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “from things that idols have polluted”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων

˱from˲_the pollutions ¬the ˱of˲_idols

If your language would not use a possessive form here, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “from things that idols have polluted”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων

˱from˲_the pollutions ¬the ˱of˲_idols

James is likely talking about food that has been offered to idols, and he is speaking as if being offered to idols has polluted this food. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from eating food that has been offered to idols”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῦ πνικτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ αἵματος

¬which the strangled_‹animal› and ¬the blood

God did not allow the Jews to consume blood in any form. Therefore, for one thing, they could not eat the meat from an animal that had been strangled, because the blood would not have been properly drained from the body of the animal. For another thing, while James is not saying that the Gentiles should have no contact at all with blood, he is saying implicitly that they should not consume blood. You can include this information if your readers need it to understand the sentence. Alternate translation: “from eating the meat of animals that have been killed by strangulation, because this meat still contains blood, and from consuming blood”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ

and and the strangled_‹animal›

James is using the adjective strangled as a noun to mean animals that have been killed by strangulation. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “animals that have been killed by strangulation”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τοῦ πνικτοῦ

¬which the strangled_‹animal›

James is referring by association to meat from animals that have been killed by strangulation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from eating the meat of animals that have been killed by strangulation”