OET interlinear 2COR 4:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

because

Here, the word For introduces the reason why Paul and his fellow workers do not proclaim themselves but. rather, Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis. Alternate translation: “That is because”

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

ὁ Θεὸς ὁ εἰπών

¬the God ¬which /having/_said

Here Paul introduces something that God said. The quotation is not directly from the Old Testament. Rather Paul is probably paraphrasing Genesis 1:3, and he may also be referring to Isaiah 9:2. Introduce the quotation as something that God said. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include a footnote that refers to the passages that Paul may be paraphrasing. Alternate translation: “God is the one who declared”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

εἰπών, ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψει

/having/_said out_of darkness light /will_be/_shining

It may be more natural in your language to have an indirect quotation here. If you use the following alternate translation, you will need to remove the quotation marks. Alternate translation: “who said that from darkness a light will shine”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐκ σκότους

out_of darkness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of darkness, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “dark.” Alternate translation: “In a dark place” or “From what is dark”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν, πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως

shined in the hearts ˱of˲_us for enlightenment ˱of˲_the knowledge

Here Paul continues the “light” metaphor from 4:4. When God shined in their hearts, that means that he caused them to understand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “who caused us to understand, just as if he had illuminated our hearts, the knowledge”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν

in the hearts ˱of˲_us

In the Paul’s culture, hearts are considered to be the places where humans think and plan. What Paul means is that God has shined on their thoughts or on what they think. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the place where humans think in your culture or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “in our minds” or “in our thoughts”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν

the hearts ˱of˲_us

Here, the word our could refer to: (1) just Paul and his fellow workers. Paul is focusing on himself and those with him, but he does not mean to exclude the Corinthians entirely. Alternate translation: “the hearts of us who preach the gospel” (2) Paul and everyone who believes, including the Corinthians. Alternate translation: “the hearts of us, who believe,”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ

enlightenment ˱of˲_the knowledge ˱of˲_the glory ¬the ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form multiple times. What he means is that the illumination either is or comes from the knowledge, and the knowledge is about the glory of God. In this last phrase, glory describes what God is like. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in a more natural form. See how you translated the similar construction in 4:4. Alternate translation: “the illumination, which is the knowledge about the glorious God” or “the illumination that comes from the knowledge concerning how glorious God is”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ

for enlightenment ˱of˲_the knowledge ˱of˲_the glory ¬the ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of illumination, knowledge, and glory, you could express the ideas by using verbs such as “illumine” and “know” and an adjective such as “great” or “glorious.” Alternate translation: “to illumine us so that we can know the great God”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

in in /the/_face ˱of˲_Jesus Christ

Here, the glory that is in face of Jesus Christ contrasts with the glory that faded on Moses’ face (See: 3:7). What Paul means is that Jesus reveals or shows what God is like, particularly how glorious he is. If possible, use words that remind your readers of what Paul said about Moses in 3:7. If it is necessary, you could use a simile or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “that Jesus Christ reveals as if it shined on his face” or “that Jesus Christ shows to us”