OET interlinear COL 1:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς & ἠκούσαμεν, οὐ παυόμεθα

we & ˱we˲_heard_‹it› not /are/_ceasing

The word we here does not include the Colossians.

ἀφ’ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν

from which day ˱we˲_heard_‹it›

Alternate translation: “from the day Epaphras told us these things”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

οὐ παυόμεθα

not /are/_ceasing

Here, have not stopped is an exaggeration that the Colossians would have understood to mean that Paul and Timothy pray often for the Colossians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that indicates frequency. Alternate translation: “have been frequently” or “have made a habit of”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐ παυόμεθα

not /are/_ceasing

Here Paul uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If this is confusing in your language, you could express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: “have kept” or “are continually”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἵνα πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ

in_order_that ˱you_all˲_/may_be/_filled ˱with˲_the knowledge ˱of˲_the will ˱of˲_him

Here Paul speaks of the Colossian believers as though they were containers that could be filled up. By speaking this way, he emphasizes that the Colossians should know God’s will in every area of their lives. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this plainly. Alternate translation: “that God would enable you to understand fully what he wants you to do”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πληρωθῆτε

˱you_all˲_/may_be/_filled

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in an active form, with God as the subject. Alternate translation: “God would fill you with”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ

˱you_all˲_/may_be/_filled ˱with˲_the knowledge ˱of˲_the will ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas behind the words knowledge and will, you could express those ideas in another way, such as with verbs. Alternate translation: “you might fully know what he has planned for you”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ,

˱you_all˲_/may_be/_filled ˱with˲_the knowledge ˱of˲_the will ˱of˲_him in all wisdom and insight spiritual

Here, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding identifies how the Colossians are filled. The phrase does not describe God’s will. If it would be helpful in your language, you could move the phrase so that it appears immediately after filled. Alternate translation: “you might be filled in all wisdom and spiritual understanding with the knowledge of his will”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ

in all wisdom and insight spiritual

If your language does not use abstract nouns to express the ideas behind wisdom and understanding, you could express the ideas with adjectives or verbs. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: “which includes being spiritually very wise and intelligent”

σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ

wisdom and insight spiritual

Here, wisdom and spiritual understanding could refer to: (1) wisdom and understanding that comes from the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: “wisdom and understanding given by the Holy Spirit” (2) wisdom and understanding in spiritual matters. Alternate translation: “wisdom and understanding about spiritual things”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ

wisdom and insight spiritual

The words wisdom and understanding mean very similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize the breadth of spiritual wisdom. If your language does not use repetition in this way or has only one word for this concept, you could use just one word. Alternate translation: “spiritual comprehension” or “spiritual insight”