OET interlinear GAL 2:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

but

Here, Paul uses the word But to introduce something that is in contrast to what the false brothers in 2:4 wanted to do. The false brothers wanted to enslave the believers by adding the requirement of circumcision to the gospel message. Beginning in this verse and continuing in 2:6-10, Paul explains that, in contrast to the actions of the false brothers, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem did not require that Paul add anything to the content of his gospel message. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: “Rather” (

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῶν δοκούντων εἶναί τι

the_‹ones› supposing to_be something

The phrase the ones seeming to be something implies the word “important” and is very similar in meaning to the phrase the ones seeming important at the end of this verse. If it would help your readers, you could express the implied word explicitly. Alternate translation: “the ones seeming to be something important”

ὁποῖοί ποτε ἦσαν, οὐδέν μοι διαφέρει, πρόσωπον ὁ Θεὸς ἀνθρώπου οὐ λαμβάνει

what_kind once ˱they˲_were nothing ˱to˲_me /is/_carrying_value /the/_appearance ¬the God ˱of˲_/a/_person not /is/_receiving

The statement what sort they were formerly matters nothing to me; God does not accept the face of man is a parenthetical statement. Use a natural form in your language for introducing and/or expressing a parenthetical statement.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁποῖοί

what_kind

The phrase what sort implies the words “of people.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “what sort of people”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁποῖοί ποτε ἦσαν, οὐδέν μοι διαφέρει

what_kind once ˱they˲_were nothing ˱to˲_me /is/_carrying_value

The phrase what sort they were formerly matters nothing to me does not mean that Paul did not regard these people’s character as important but, rather, it means that he did not let their status or position influence his decision making. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

πρόσωπον ὁ Θεὸς ἀνθρώπου οὐ λαμβάνει

/the/_appearance ¬the God ˱of˲_/a/_person not /is/_receiving

Here, the term face means “external status and position.” The phrase God does not accept the face of man is an idiom which means that God does not base his judgements and decisions on appearances or external factors. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent idiom or use plain language. Alternate translation: “God does not judge with partiality” or “God does not look at external factors when making decisions” or “God does not show partiality”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀνθρώπου

˱of˲_/a/_person

Although the term man is masculine, Paul is using the word here in a general sense to mean all people in general, including women. Alternate translation: “of a person”

οἱ δοκοῦντες

the_‹ones› supposing

See how you translated the similar phrase, “the ones seeming to be important” in 2:2.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐμοὶ & οὐδὲν προσανέθεντο

˱to˲_me & nothing ˱they˲_contributed

Here, me represents what Paul was teaching. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “added nothing to what I teach” or “did not add anything to my message”