OET interlinear COL 1:20

uW Translation Notes:

ἀποκαταλλάξαι

/to/_reconcile

This verse continues the sentence from the previous verse, so to reconcile continues the same verb from there, “was pleased,” along with its implied subject, God the Father. If it would be helpful in your language, you could repeat that subject and verb here. Alternate translation: [God the Father was pleased to reconcile]

τὰ πάντα

the_‹things› all

Here, all things includes everything that God created, including people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could be more specific. Alternate translation: [all things and all people]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰρηνοποιήσας

/having/_made_peace

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word peace, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [having made things right]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ

the blood ˱of˲_the cross ˱of˲_him

Paul uses the possessive form to describe blood characterized by his cross, which is the location where the blood was shed. If your language does not use this form to express that idea, you could make the relationship between the two words clearer with a short phrase such as “shed on.” Alternate translation: [the blood shed on his cross.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ

the blood ˱of˲_the cross ˱of˲_him

Here, blood stands for the death of Christ on the cross. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable word that stands for death or express the idea in plain language. Alternate translation: [his death on the cross]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

τὰ πάντα εἰς αὐτόν & εἴτε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, εἴτε τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

the_‹things› all to himself & whether the_‹things› on the earth or the_‹things› in the heavens

The last part of this verse (whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens) describes all things, found near the beginning of the verse. If your language does not separate a description from the thing it describes, you could move the description next to all things. Alternate translation: [all things, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens, to himself]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

εἴτε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, εἴτε τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

whether the_‹things› on the earth or the_‹things› in the heavens

Paul refers to the things on the earth and the things in the heavens to include them and everything in between, that is, everything in all of creation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [everything in the whole creation]