OET interlinear COL 3:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως

the word ˱of˲_the Messiah /let_be/_dwelling_in in you_all richly

Here Paul uses a third person imperative. If you have third person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third person imperatives, you could express Paul’s command in the second person with the Colossians as the subject of a verb such as “welcome.” Alternate translation: [Welcome the word of Christ richly into your lives]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν

the word ˱of˲_the Messiah /let_be/_dwelling_in in you_all

Here Paul speaks as if the word of Christ were a person who could dwell or live in a location, which is the group of believers in Colossae. This metaphor emphasizes how the word of Christ should be a consistent and constant part of the Colossians’ lives as surely as if it were somebody permanently living with them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea with a comparable metaphor or plainly. Alternate translation: [Let the word of Christ be a part of your lives consistently and]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

the word ˱of˲_the Messiah

Here Paul uses the possessive form to relate the word to Christ. This could mean: (1) that the word is about Christ. Alternate translation: [the word concerning the Messiah] (2) that the word is spoken by Christ. Alternate translation: [the word from Christ]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ λόγος

the word

Here, word represents a message that is made up of words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the message]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πλουσίως

richly

Here Paul speaks as if the “word” were wealthy and could do something richly. He uses this metaphor to command that the word should dwell in the Colossians completely and with all the blessings that come from it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable metaphor or express it plainly. Alternate translation: [in every way and with every blessing] or [fully]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ

in in all wisdom

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind wisdom, you could express the idea another way. Alternate translation: [in all wise ways]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς & ᾄδοντες

in in all wisdom teaching and admonishing yourselves & singing

Paul uses the words teaching, admonishing, and singing to show the Colossians some ways in which they can “let the word of Christ dwell” in them. Therefore, teaching, admonishing, and singing happen at the same time as the word of Christ dwelling in them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could directly state it. Alternate translation: (start a new sentence) “you could do this by teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom … and by singing”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες

teaching and admonishing

These two verbs have only slightly different meanings. The word teaching refers positively to giving someone information, skills, or concepts. The word admonishing refers negatively to warning someone against something. If you have words that fit these two ideas, you could use them here. If you do not have words that make these distinctions, you could translate both of them with a single verb such as “instruct.” Alternate translation: [instructing]

Note 9 topic: translate-unknown

ψαλμοῖς, ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς

˱in˲_psalms hymns songs spiritual

These three terms name different kinds of songs. The word psalms refers to songs from the book of Psalms in the Bible. The word hymns refers to songs sung in praise, usually to a deity. Finally, the word songs refers to vocal music that celebrates someone or something, usually in poem form. If you have words that roughly match these categories in your language, you could use them here. If you do not have words that match these categories, you could express the idea with only one or two words or use adjectives to describe the different types of songs. Alternate translation: [psalms and spiritual songs] or [biblical songs, praise songs, and celebratory spiritual songs]

Note 10 topic: translate-unknown

ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς

songs spiritual

The word spiritual could refer to: (1) the Holy Spirit as the origin or inspiration of the songs. Alternate translation: [and songs from the Spirit] (2) songs that are sung by or in the power of the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [and songs empowered by the Spirit]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ χάριτι,

in in with ¬the thankfulness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind thankfulness, you could express the idea by using an adverb such as “thankfully” or an adjective such as “thankful.” Alternate translation: [in thankful ways]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν

in in with in the hearts ˱of˲_you_all

Here the Colossians would have understood the phrase in your hearts to describe something that people do that they fully believe in. It means that the singing should be done with sincerity and the full approval of one’s own mind. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable idiom or plainly. Alternate translation: [wholeheartedly] or [with genuineness]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν

in in with in the hearts ˱of˲_you_all

In Paul’s culture, hearts are the places where humans think and desire. 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 your minds]