2 COR 4:17 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NNS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122146
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y60
11. 122147
1. παραυτίκα
2. parautika
3. momentary
4. -
5. 39100
6. D·······
7. momentary
8. momentary
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122148
1. ἐλαφρόν
2. elafros
3. light
4. -
5. 16450
6. S····NNS
7. light
8. light
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122149
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122150
1. θλίψεως
2. thlipsis
3. of tribulation
4. -
5. 23470
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ tribulation
8. ˱of˲ tribulation
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122151
1. ἡμῶν
2. egō
3. -
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·P
7. ˱of˲ us
8. ˱of˲ us
9. -
10. R122033; Person=Paul; Person=Titus
11. 122152
1. καθʼ
2. kata
3. as
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122153
1. ὑπερβολήν
2. huperbolē
3. excess
4. -
5. 52360
6. N····AFS
7. excess
8. excess
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122154
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. to
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122155
1. ὑπερβολήν
2. huperbolē
3. excess
4. -
5. 52360
6. N····AFS
7. excess
8. excess
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122156
1. αἰώνιον
2. aiōnios
3. +an eternal
4. -
5. 1660
6. A····ANS
7. ˓an˒ eternal
8. ˓an˒ eternal
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122157
1. βάρος
2. baros
3. burden
4. -
5. 9220
6. N····ANS
7. burden
8. burden
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122158
1. δόξης
2. doxa
3. of glory
4. -
5. 13910
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ glory
8. ˱of˲ glory
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122159
1. κατεργάζεται
2. katergazomai
3. is producing
4. produce
5. 27160
6. VIPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ producing
8. ˓is˒ producing
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122160
1. ἡμῖν
2. egō
3. for us
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·P
7. ˱for˲ us
8. ˱for˲ us
9. -
10. Y60; R122033; Person=Paul; Person=Titus
11. 122161

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:7–18: Although our bodies are weak, our message is powerful

In this section, Paul continued to speak of the difficulties that he and the other evangelists encountered as they did the work of the new covenant. He referred to their bodies as jars of clay (4:7a), which are easily shattered. He said this to show that our human nature is weak and easily fails as we follow God. But Paul was also encouraged that God enabled him to do the work of the new covenant in spite of great difficulties (4:7b–9).

He wrote that he and the other evangelists experienced things similar to what Jesus experienced before he died, but those experiences showed to other people how Jesus lived (4:10–11). He wrote that the believers experienced the good effects of Jesus’ life (4:12). He supported his ministry of preaching with a quote from the Old Testament (4:13), and he explained the promise there (4:14). He wrote that their ministry benefited the believers in Corinth and others as well (4:15).

Lastly, Paul wrote how they continue in spite of the difficulties (4:16–18).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars (NCV)

Even though our bodies are weak, God gives us strength to tell the gospel

A glorious, powerful message taught by weak messengers

4:17a–b

(reordered) For our troubles gain/obtain for us an eternal glory that is very much greater than them, and so those troubles in comparison seem only light/small and last only a short time.

(reordered) Our troubles cause us to have a splendor/majesty that will remain forever. That splendor/majesty is very much greater than the pain of all those troubles. Therefore, those troubles can be thought of as being only little and short-lived.

our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison: Paul implied a comparison here. The forms of affliction experienced by Paul and his coworkers were very difficult (1:8–9). But compared to the reward in heaven (4:17b), the experiences of affliction seemed small and lasted a short time. Other ways to translate the phrase our light and momentary affliction are:

the temporary, light burden of our hardships (NJB)

this small and temporary trouble we suffer (GNT)

our present troubles that are small and that will not last very long

In some languages a literal translation would not clearly imply the comparison. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The troubles of Paul and his coworkers were very difficult (1:8–9). But in comparison to the reward in heaven (4:17b), the troubles seemed small and lasted only a short time.
Include the implied comparison in your translation. For example:
our extreme/difficult troubles are only light and momentary when compared to the eternal glory they achieve for us, which far outweighs all those troubles
our great/bad troubles seem only light and momentarybecause they achieve for us eternal glory, which far outweighs all of them
our great/bad troubles achieve for us eternal glory, and that glory far outweighs all of them. So those troubles are only light and momentary in comparison

4:17a

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us

For our^(excl) slight and temporary hardships/troubles are obtaining for us
Our great troubles seem only little and short-lived, because they result in

For: Here the conjunction For introduces an explanation of 4:16. Some English versions, such as the CEV and GW, do not translate this conjunction. Some languages can also allow the context to indicate an implied connection and do not need to use a conjunction here.

light: Here this word refers to the troubles being small. Paul calls these troubles light because in comparison with the eternal glory that believers will receive, the troubles seem small. Other ways to translate this word are:

little (CEV)

slight (REB)

of no weight

momentary: Here this word refers to the troubles lasting only a short time. Other ways to translate this word are:

temporary (GNT)

which is but for a moment (KJV)

won’t last very long (NLT)

short-lived (REB)

affliction is producing: This verb phrase indicates that the affliction that Paul and his coworkers experienced resulted in glory for them. That affliction came to them as followers of Jesus and they lived with it in a godly manner, so God would reward them with glory. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

troubles are achieving (NIV)

and their outcome is (REB)

will bring (GNT)

Paul and his coworkers would not receive the glory until they arrived in heaven, so in some languages it is more natural to indicate a future result. For example:

is preparing (RSV)

4:17b

an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.

an eternal glory that is very much greater than those troubles,
a splendor/majesty for us that lasts forever. That splendor/majesty is so great that it is beyond comparison to those troubles.

an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison: The Greek phrase is literally “from excess to excess an eternal weight of glory.” The phrase “from excess to excess” indicates that the glory Paul would receive was much, much greater than the troubles he was facing. The amount of glory was beyond comparison to the troubles. Other ways to translate this are:

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (NIV)

a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever (NLT)

an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine (GW)

glory: This word literally means “brightness.” The word can also refer to light emanating from someone. Here the word symbolizes reward, splendor, and majesty. God will reward Paul and his coworkers with eternal life, a glorified body, and other rewards. Other ways to translate this word are:

splendor

majesty

See how you translated this word in 1:20 or 4:15.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Γάρ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρόν τῆς θλίψεως καθʼ ὑπερβολήν εἰς ὑπερβολήν αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης κατεργάζεται ἡμῖν)

Here, the word For introduces a reason why Paul and his fellow workers do not become discouraged (See: [4:16](../04/16.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason for a previous statement. Alternate translation: [We do not become discouraged because] or [We do that because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ & παραυτίκα ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of affliction, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “afflict” or “suffer.” Alternate translation: [how we are afflicted in light and momentary ways]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως & αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης

Here Paul describes affliction and glory as if they were objects that could be light or have weight. He speaks in this way to indicate how unimportant or insignificant the affliction is compared with how important or significant the glory is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [small affliction … an eternal, great glory] or [insignificant affliction … an eternal, significant glory]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κατεργάζεται ἡμῖν

˓is˒_producing ˱for˲_us

Here Paul speaks as if the affliction were a process that was producing the glory. He means that the affliction leads to glory for us. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [is leading us to] or [is enabling us to gain]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης

˓an˒_eternal burden ˱of˲_glory

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe an eternal weight that is made up of glory. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [an eternal weight that is glory]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δόξης

˱of˲_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: [of what is great]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν εἰς ὑπερβολὴν

as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Γάρ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρόν τῆς θλίψεως καθʼ ὑπερβολήν εἰς ὑπερβολήν αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης κατεργάζεται ἡμῖν)

Here, the phrase far beyond all comparison identifies something that is much greater than anything else. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that identifies something that is greatest or most amazing. Alternate translation: [that is greater than anything] or [that is the greatest of all]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 2 COR 4:17

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 4:7–18: Although our bodies are weak, our message is powerful

4:17a–b

4:17a

4:17b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 2 COR 4:17

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 4:7–18: Although our bodies are weak, our message is powerful

4:17a–b

4:17a

4:17b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 2 COR 4:17