OET interlinear GAL 4:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τότε μέν οὐκ εἰδότες Θεόν ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μή οὖσι θεοῖς)

The word But is introducing a contrast. Paul is contrasting the life of the Galatian believers before they believed in Christ with their life after they believed in Christ and as a result became God’s sons (which he explained in [4:1-7](../04/01.md)). Use a natural form in your language for introducing a contrast.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰδότες Θεὸν

˓having˒_known (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τότε μέν οὐκ εἰδότες Θεόν ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μή οὖσι θεοῖς)

Here, the phrase having known God means knowing God in a close personal relationship. It means more than simply having heard about God or knowing some things about God. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [having been in a close relationship with God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μὴ οὖσι θεοῖς

˱you_all˲_served ˱for˲_the_‹ones› ˱by˲_nature (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τότε μέν οὐκ εἰδότες Θεόν ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μή οὖσι θεοῖς)

Paul speaks of the Galatians' former way of life in which they practiced false religions and worshiped false gods 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 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῖς φύσει μὴ οὖσι θεοῖς

˱for˲_the_‹ones› ˱by˲_nature (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τότε μέν οὐκ εἰδότες Θεόν ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μή οὖσι θεοῖς)

The phrase, the ones by nature not being gods refers to the beings which the Galatians served when they were pagans and which were considered by them to be gods though they were not really gods. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [false gods which were not really gods at all]