OET interlinear COL 2:13

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς

you_all dead being in the transgressions and ˱in˲_the uncircumcision ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_you_all ˱he˲_made_alive_together (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν συνεζωοποίησεν ἡμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα)

Here Paul begins the sentence with you, and then he restates you when he identifies what God has done for you. If your language would not restate you or use this structure, you could separate the two uses of you into separate sentences. Alternate translation: “you were dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. Then, he made you alive together”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-time-background

νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

dead being in the transgressions and ˱in˲_the uncircumcision ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_you_all

This clause does not refer to the current situation of the Colossians, but rather it describes their situation before God acted to make them alive, as expressed in the rest of the verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that this clause describes a time before he made you alive. Alternate translation: “who used to be dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας

you_all dead being

Paul speaks of people who are without Christ as if they were dead. By this he means that those who lack any relationship with God and are not united to Christ are spiritually dead. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that Paul speaks of spiritual death or express the idea with a simile, or express it plainly. Alternate translation: “you, being like dead people” or “you, being totally separated from God”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

dead being in the transgressions and ˱in˲_the uncircumcision ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_you_all

When Paul speaks of someone being dead in something, this identifies both why and in what state the person is dead. In other words, the Colossians were dead because of their trespasses and because of their uncircumcision, and these things also characterized them while they were dead. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a phrase like “because of,” or you could translate trespasses and uncircumcision as descriptors of dead. Alternate translation: “being dead because of your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh” or “being dead, that is, trespassing God’s commands and being uncircumcised in your flesh”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

in the transgressions and ˱in˲_the uncircumcision ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_you_all

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of trespasses and uncircumcision, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: “because you transgressed God’s commands and were uncircumcised in your flesh”

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

˱in˲_the uncircumcision ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_you_all

Here, the uncircumcision could refer: (1) to how the Colossians were not circumcised Jews and thus not part of God’s people. Alternate translation: “among the non-Jews without God’s promises” or “without circumcision, since you are Gentiles” (2) to the metaphor about circumcision in 2:11. Alternate translation: “apart from God’s saving work”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

˱in˲_the uncircumcision ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_you_all

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe flesh that has not been “circumcised.” If your language does not express this idea with the possessive form, you could translate uncircumcision as an adjective. Alternate translation: “your uncircumcised flesh”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ

˱he˲_made_alive_together (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν συνεζωοποίησεν ἡμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα)

Here Paul speaks of God’s work in restoring people to himself as if he brought these people back to life physically. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that Paul speaks of spiritual life or express the idea with a simile or plainly. Alternate translation: “he did something like making you alive together with him” or “he restored you to proper relationship with him”

Note 9 topic: writing-pronouns

συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ

˱he˲_made_alive_together (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν συνεζωοποίησεν ἡμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα)

The word he refers to God the Father, while the word translated him refers to God the Son. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify the antecedent of one or both of these pronouns. Alternate translation: “God made you alive together with the Messiah”