OET interlinear COL 3:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ἐν οἷς

among whom

The word which refers again back to the list of sins in 3:5. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include the word “sins” to clarify this reference. Alternate translation: “in which sins”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε

among whom also you_all walked once

Paul speaks of behavior that is characteristic of one’s life as if it were something that one could “walk in.” By this, he means that the sinful behaviors were things that they normally did. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable metaphor or express it plainly. Alternate translation: “which formerly characterized your lives too”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

περιεπατήσατέ ποτε

walked once

The word formerly is used to refer to some indefinite time in the past. Here Paul uses it to refer to the time before the Colossians believed in Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify the specific time reference. Alternate translation: “walked before you believed”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

ὅτε

when

The word when introduces a clause that occurs simultaneously with the main clause. Here, the Colossians “lived” in them at the same time as they were “walking” in them. Use an expression that indicates simultaneous time in your language. Alternate translation: “at the time when”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐζῆτε ἐν τούτοις

˱you_all˲_/were/_living in these_‹things›

The phrase living in something could mean: (1) that the Colossians practiced these sins in addition to having lives characterized by them (“walking in them”). Alternate translation: “you were doing these things” (2) that the Colossians were living among people who did these things. Alternate translation: “you were living among people who did these things”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν τούτοις.

among whom also you_all walked once when ˱you_all˲_/were/_living in these_‹things›

If which and them both refer to the sins mentioned in 3:5, then “walking” and living in them mean very similar things. Paul uses the repetition to emphasize how thoroughly the Colossians’ lives were characterized by sins. If your language does not use repetition in this way or has only one phrase for this concept, you could use just one of these phrases. Alternate translation: “in which you also formerly walked” or “in which you used to live”