OET interlinear 2COR 3:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

but

Here, the word Now introduces a development of the ideas from the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a development, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ

if

Paul is speaking as if the glory of the ministry of death were a possibility, but he means that it is actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you can introduce the clause with a word such as “since” or “given that.” Alternate translation: [since] or [given that]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου

the service ¬the ˱of˲_death

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe a ministry that leads to death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the ministry that leads to death]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου

the service ¬the ˱of˲_death

Here, the word ministry could refer primarily to: (1) the action of ministering. In this case, the word refers to how Moses administered the old covenant. Alternate translation: [the service of this death] or [the act of ministering that led to death] (2) the system of ministry. In this case, the word refers to the old covenant or its laws. Alternate translation: [the system of this death] or [the laws that led to death]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου

the service ¬the ˱of˲_death

If your language does not use an abstract nouns for the idea of death, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “die.” Alternate translation: [the ministry that causes people die]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐν γράμμασιν ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις

in letters /having_been/_engraved ˱in˲_stones

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that God did it (See: also Exodus 34:1). Alternate translation: [which God engraved in letters on stones]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν γράμμασιν ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις

in letters /having_been/_engraved ˱in˲_stones

Here Paul refers to how God engraved or carved the regulations for the ministry on stones or tablets. Much as in the previous verse, letters refers to written characters, so the point is that God used writing. Paul is probably referring to the story about how Moses met God on a mountain, and God carved the regulations of the covenant on two pieces of stone. You can read this story in Exodus 34:1–28. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [engraved in writing by God onto two stone slabs]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ

/was/_become in glory

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of glory, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “glorious” or “great.” Alternate translation: [was very great]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μωϋσέως, διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

so_as not /to_be/_able /to/_look_intently the sons ˱of˲_Israel at the face ˱of˲_Moses because_of the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

Here Paul refers to a story about what happened after God engraved the stone tablets. When Moses returned to talk to the Israelites, his face shone brightly because he had been talking to God. In other words, some of God’s glory became part of Moses’ face, and the Israelites could not look intently at his face because it was a little like looking at God. You can read this story in Exodus 34:29–35. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the idea more explicit or include a footnote explaining the story. Alternate translation: [so that the sons of Israel were not able to look carefully at the face of Moses because of the fading glory on his face that came from talking with God]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τοὺς υἱοὺς

the sons

Although the word sons is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to any children or descendants, both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that applies to both men and women or you could refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [the sons and daughters] or [the children]

Note 11 topic: translate-kinship

τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ

the sons ˱of˲_Israel

Here the author uses the word sons to refer in general to all the descendants of Israel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to descendants in general. Alternate translation: [the descendants of Israel] or [those descended from Israel]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

because_of the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

Here, the reason why the Israelites were not able to look intently at Moses’ face could be that: (1) Moses’ face was very “glorious.” Alternate translation: [because of the glory of his face, even though it was fading] (2) the glory of his face was fading. Alternate translation: [because the glory of his face was fading]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of glory, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “glorious” or “shining.” Alternate translation: [how his face was shining, even though that was fading]

Note 14 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

Here, the word fading could describe: (1) the glory of Moses’ face. Alternate translation: [the glory of his face that faded] (2) the ministry of this death. Alternate translation: [the glory of his face, although that ministry was fading away]