OET interlinear COL 1:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου

who is /the/_image ˱of˲_the God ¬the invisible

Here, image does not mean a representation of something that is visible, like a photo or a reflection. Instead, image refers to how the Son perfectly reveals the Father. If it would be helpful in your language, you could replace image with an expression that emphasizes how the Son reveals the Father. Alternate translation: [What the invisible God is like can be seen in his Son]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου

˱of˲_the God ¬the invisible

The word invisible does not mean that God the Father could be seen by people but hides himself. Instead, it means that human sight is unable to perceive God the Father, since he is not part of the created world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase to clarify the idea. Alternate translation: [of God, whom humans are unable to see]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως

/the/_firstborn ˱of˲_all creation

The word firstborn does not refer to when Jesus was born. Instead, it refers to his position as the eternal Son of God the Father. In this sense, firstborn is a metaphor that means that he existed as God before God created anything and that he is most important. You could emphasize either or both of these ideas in your translation. Alternate translation: [God’s Son, the most important one over all creation] or [God’s Son, who existed as God before all creation]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πάσης κτίσεως

˱of˲_all creation

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind creation, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “create.” Alternate translation: [of all that God created]