OET interlinear GAL 4:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: νῦν δέ γνόντες Θεόν μᾶλλον δέ γνωσθέντες ὑπό Θεοῦ πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπί τά ἀσθενῆ καί πτωχά στοιχεῖα οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε)

Here, the word But is introducing a contrast. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [So]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γνόντες & γνωσθέντες

˓having˒_known & ˓having_been˒_known

Make sure that you translate the words know and known with the same type of expression as you used to translate the word “known” in [4:8](../04/08.md). The phrase “not having known God” in [4:8](../04/08.md) and the phrases know God and known by God in this verse are all referring to having intimate personal knowledge that comes from a close relationship.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

γνωσθέντες ὑπὸ Θεοῦ

˓having_been˒_known (Some words not found in SR-GNT: νῦν δέ γνόντες Θεόν μᾶλλον δέ γνωσθέντες ὑπό Θεοῦ πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπί τά ἀσθενῆ καί πτωχά στοιχεῖα οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε)

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. Alternate translation: [God having come to know you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπὶ τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα

how ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_turning_back back (Some words not found in SR-GNT: νῦν δέ γνόντες Θεόν μᾶλλον δέ γνωσθέντες ὑπό Θεοῦ πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπί τά ἀσθενῆ καί πτωχά στοιχεῖα οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε)

Paul is not asking for information, but is using the question form to rebuke the Galatian believers. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν

˱you_all˲_˓are˒_turning_back back

Here, turning again means “to return.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [are you returning]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: νῦν δέ γνόντες Θεόν μᾶλλον δέ γνωσθέντες ὑπό Θεοῦ πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπί τά ἀσθενῆ καί πτωχά στοιχεῖα οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε)

See how you decided to translate the phrase elemental principles in [Galatians 4:3](../04/03.md).

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε

˱for˲_which again again ˓to_be˒_serving ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_wanting

Paul is not asking for information, but is using the question form to rebuke the Galatian believers. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way.

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε

˱for˲_which again again ˓to_be˒_serving ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_wanting

Here, to be enslaved is a metaphor for being obligated to obey certain rules and regulations. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. See how you translated the word enslaved in [4:8](../04/08.md) where it is also used with a metaphorical use. Alternate translation: [to which once more you want to act like a slave who must obey his master]