OET interlinear COL 3:22

uW Translation Notes:

οἱ δοῦλοι

¬The slaves

Here Paul directly addresses the Slaves in the audience. Use a form in your language that indicates that the speaker is singling out a specific group of people as the intended audience of the following words. Alternate translation: “You slaves”

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις

˱to˲_your according_to flesh masters

The phrase according to the flesh describes the masters as humans on this earth. Paul uses this phrase to describe these masters because he is already setting up a contrast with the “Master” over these masters: Jesus (See: 4:1). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea with an adjective such as “human” or “earthly.” Alternate translation: “your earthly masters” or “your human masters”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῖς & κυρίοις

˱to˲_your & masters

Here Paul does not explicitly state that slaves must obey “their own” masters. However, Paul writes this sentence in such a way that the Colossians would have understood him to mean this. The ULT includes your because this is an essential part of what Paul is saying. Use a form in your language that specifies that Paul has each slave’s master in mind. Alternate translation: “your own masters”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

κατὰ πάντα

in all_‹things›

Just as in 3:20, the phrase in all things is an idiom that indicates that slaves should obey “everything their masters command” or “in every situation.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or indicate what the things are. Alternate translation: “in everything they tell you to do”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλεία

not with (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ δοῦλοι ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλείᾳ ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι ἀλλʼ ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον)

The word eyeservice describes how people sometimes behave to look good more than to do the right thing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression or a short phrase such as “wanting to look impressive.” Alternate translation: “not focusing on how you appear to others”

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι

as men_pleasing

The phrase people pleasers describes the kind of people who care about “eyeservice.” Here, people pleasers are those who focus on impressing humans rather than doing what God desires. If it would be helpful in your language, you could emphasize that people pleasers want to please humans only, not God. Alternate translation: “as people who want to please humans rather than God”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας

with in sincerity ˱of˲_heart

Paul here uses the possessive form to describe a heart that is characterized by its sincerity. If your language would not use the possessive form to express that idea, you could express the idea by translating sincerity with an adjective such as “sincere.” Alternate translation: “with a sincere heart”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας

with in sincerity ˱of˲_heart

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind sincerity, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “sincere” or and adverb such as “sincerely.” Alternate translation: “sincerely in your heart” or “with a sincere heart”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

καρδίας

˱of˲_heart

In Paul’s culture, the heart is the place where a person thinks and desires. 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: “of mind” or “of desire”

Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον

revering the Lord

The phrase fearing the Lord could describe: (1) the reason why the slaves should obey their masters. Alternate translation: “because you fear the Lord” (2) the way or manner in which the slaves should obey their masters. Alternate translation: “showing fear for the Lord” or “in a way that shows that you fear the Lord”