OET interlinear 1COR 15:52

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

ἐν ἀτόμῳ

in /an/_instant

Here, instant refers to the smallest segment of time that Paul and the Corinthians knew about. He means that the “change” (15:51) will happen so quickly that it will only take up the smallest bit of time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate in a moment to refer to the smallest amount of time in your culture or to express the idea in a way that emphasizes speed. Alternate translation: [in one second] or [very quickly]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ

in in /the/_twinkling ˱of˲_/an/_eye

Here, in the twinkling of an eye refers to the speed at which one moves or blinks one’s eye. Paul’s point is that the “change” (15:51) will take place so quickly that one cannot move one’s eye fast enough to see it, or if one blinks, one might miss it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [in the blink of an eye] or [at great speed]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ σάλπιγγι; σαλπίσει γάρ

in in at the last trumpet ˱he˲_/will_be/_trumpeting for

Paul refers briefly to the last trumpet without explanation because the Corinthians would have known what he was talking about. In Paul’s culture, people knew that a trumpet would sound to signal the Day of the Lord, in this case, the day when Jesus comes back, the dead rise, and the world is renewed. An angel or archangel would blow this trumpet. If your readers would not make such inferences about the last trumpet, you could express some of these ideas explicitly. Alternate translation: [when we hear the trumpet that means that Jesus is coming back. For that trumpet will sound] or [when an angel sounds the end-times trumpet. For the angel will sound that trumpet]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οἱ νεκροὶ ἐγερθήσονται

the dead /will_be_being/_raised

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive here to focus on the dead who will be raised rather than focusing on the one doing the “raising.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God will raise the dead]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

οἱ νεκροὶ

the dead

Paul is using the adjective dead as a noun in order to refer to believers who are dead. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [the dead people] or [the corpses]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ἄφθαρτοι

indestructible

Here, imperishable identifies people or things that last and do not fall apart. See you how translated this word in 15:50. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express imperishable with a word or phrase that refers to how long things last. Alternate translation: [in such a way that they will never pass away] or [so that they never fall apart]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς

we

Here, we refers to Paul, the Corinthians, and all other believers who are alive. Paul included himself in this group because he was alive when he sent this letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express that we refers to living believers with a phrase that makes this explicit. Alternate translation: [we who are alive]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡμεῖς ἀλλαγησόμεθα

we ˱we˲_/will_be_being/_changed

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive here to focus on we who will be changed rather than focusing on the one doing the “changing.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God will change us]