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interlinearVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
OET (OET-LV) Thus we also, when we_were infants, we_were having_been_enslaved under the principles of_the world.
OET (OET-RV) So it is with us—when we were infants we were enslaved by the principles of this world,
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
οὕτως
thus
Here, the word So indicates that what follows is comparable to, and similar in some way to what has just been described in 4:1-2. Use a natural form in your language for introducing something that corresponds to something that was introduced previously. Alternate translation: [In a similar way]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive
ἦμεν
˱we˲_were
The word we here refers to all Christians, including Paul’s readers, so we would be inclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι
when ˱we˲_were infants
Paul speaks of people who have not yet trusted in Jesus as if they were children. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly, or you could translate this phrase as a simile. Alternate translation: [when we did not yet believe in Jesus] or [when we were like children spiritually]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι
under the principles ˱of˲_the world (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who was doing the action, Paul says that the elemental principles of the world were doing it. See the note on personification regarding the elemental principles of this world. Alternate translation: [the elemental principles of the world were enslaving us]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
δεδουλωμένοι
/having_been/_enslaved
Paul speaks of being under the control of the elemental principles of the world as if it were slavery. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly.
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ὑπὸ
under
Here, the word under means “under the power of” or “under the authority of.” See how you translated the word under in 4:2 where Paul uses it with a similar meaning. Alternate translation: [under the power of] or [under the authority of]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου & δεδουλωμένοι
under the principles ˱of˲_the world & /having_been/_enslaved
Here, Paul speaks of the elemental principles of the world as though they were a person who could enslave other people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning plainly. Paul speaks of the elemental principles of the world as though they have the power to enslave a person, but it is actually humans who do not yet believe in the Messiah, who willing submit to these elemental principles and allow themselves to be enslaved. See 5:1.
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου
the principles ˱of˲_the world
Here, the elemental principles of the world could refer to: (1) the religious and/or moral teachings that people, whether they be a Jew or non-Jew, seek to obey in order to please God and think of themselves as praiseworthy and good. Alternate translation: [the elemental rules of this world] or [the rudimentary principles of this world] (2) the things prescribed by the Mosaic law. Alternate translation: [the things prescribed by the law of Moses]
4:3 Before Christ came, God’s people were like underage heirs to a large estate (4:1-2). They would inherit a great fortune (4:5), but they were still subject to their guardian (3:23-25).
• the basic spiritual principles of this world: This probably refers to the principles of law that govern the world apart from Christ; these principles were fully expressed in the law of Moses (3:23-24; cp. 4:5).
OET (OET-LV) Thus we also, when we_were infants, we_were having_been_enslaved under the principles of_the world.
OET (OET-RV) So it is with us—when we were infants we were enslaved by the principles of this world,
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the SR-GNT.