OET interlinear ACTs 7:51

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

σκληροτράχηλοι καὶ ἀπερίτμητοι καρδίαις καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν

stiff-necked and uncircumcised ˱in˲_hearts and the ears

Stephen is using the exclamatory word O to make a transition in his speech. Up to this point, he has been identifying with the Sanhedrin members, saying “our fathers” as he describes what earlier generations of Israelites did. Now, as he shifts to rebuking them, he addresses them with the vocative O. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for this same purpose. Alternate translation: [You stiff-necked people who are uncircumcised in your heart and ears]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

σκληροτράχηλοι καὶ

stiff-necked and

Stephen is using the adjective stiff-necked as a noun, to describe a kind of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: [O people who are stiff-necked and]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σκληροτράχηλοι

stiff-necked

Stephen is speaking of the Sanhedrin members as if they were horses or mules that stiffened their necks in order not to be turned in one direction or another. He means that they are being stubborn. If your readers would not understand this, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture, or you could express the meaning in a non-figurative way. Alternate translation: [O stubborn]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἀπερίτμητοι καρδίαις καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν

uncircumcised ˱in˲_hearts and the ears

Stephen speaks of the Sanhedrin members’ heart and ears as uncircumcised by association with the way that Gentiles, who are uncircumcised because they are not part of the covenant community, do not obey or listen to God. Alternate translation: [unwilling to obey or listen to God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἀπερίτμητοι καρδίαις καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν

uncircumcised ˱in˲_hearts and the ears

Stephen is using one part of a person, the heart, meaning the desires and will, to represent all of a person in the act of obeying or disobeying. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or plain language. Alternate translation: [unwilling to obey or listen to God]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἀπερίτμητοι καρδίαις καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν

uncircumcised ˱in˲_hearts and the ears

Stephen is using one part of a person, the ears, to represent all of a person in the act of listening. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or plain language. Alternate translation: [unwilling to obey or listen to God]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ὑμεῖς ἀεὶ τῷ Πνεύματι τῷ Ἁγίῳ ἀντιπίπτετε

you_all always ˱against˲_the Spirit ¬the Holy /are/_opposing

The word always is a generalization for emphasis. Alternate translation: [You keep resisting the Holy Spirit]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὑμεῖς & ὑμῶν & ὑμεῖς

you_all & ˱of˲_you_all & you_all

The words you and your are plural, since Stephen is speaking to all the members of the Sanhedrin. So use plural forms in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ὡς οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν, καὶ ὑμεῖς

as_‹are› the fathers ˱of˲_you_all also you_all

Stephen is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. Alternate translation: [As your ancestors disobeyed God and did not listen to him, so you disobey God and do not listen to him]