OET interlinear COL 4:1

uW Translation Notes:

οἱ κύριοι

¬The masters

Here Paul directly addresses the Masters 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 masters]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε

what_‹is› righteous and ¬the equality ˱to˲_your slaves /be/_bringing_about

Here Paul speaks of how masters treat their slaves as if the master were “giving” the treatment of their slaves. By this, he means that the thing given (what is right and fair) is what characterizes the master’s dealing with the slave. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea by using adverbs such as “rightly” and “fairly” with a verb such as “treat.” Alternate translation: [act rightly and fairly towards your slaves]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα

what_‹is› righteous and ¬the equality

The word right describes someone or something that properly follows laws, principles, and expectations. The word translated fair describes someone or something that is impartial and does not pick sides. If you have words in your language that roughly represent these ideas, you could them here. If you do not have words that make these distinctions, you could express the idea with one word that indicates that something is fair, legal, and proper. Alternate translation: [what is just and impartial] or [what is right]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰδότες

/having/_known

Paul uses the word knowing to introduce a reason why the masters should treat their slaves as he commands them to. If knowing would not introduce a reason in your language, you could make this explicit with a word such as “because” or “since.” Alternate translation: [since you know]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Κύριον ἐν οὐρανῷ

/a/_Master in heaven

The words Masters and master are usually translated “lords” and “Lord” elsewhere. However, here they are translated Masters and master because the relationship between slaves and their masters, or “lords,” is in view. Paul wishes the Masters to treat their slaves justly because they also serve a “Master,” the Lord Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea by identifying that the master is the Lord Jesus. Alternate translation: [a master in heaven, the Lord Jesus]