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OET interlinear GAL 4:9

◄ ← GAL 4:9 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    1. Greek word
    2. Greek lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. νῦν
    2. nun
    3. now
    4. -
    5. 35680
    6. D·······
    7. now
    8. now
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126989
    1. δέ
    2. de
    3. on the other hand
    4. -
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. on_the_other_hand
    8. on_the_other_hand
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126990
    1. γνόντες
    2. ginōskō
    3. having known
    4. -
    5. 10970
    6. VPAA·NMP
    7. ˓having˒ known
    8. ˓having˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 126991
    1. Θεόν
    2. theos
    3. god
    4. -
    5. 23160
    6. N····AMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y58; Person=God
    11. 126992
    1. μᾶλλον
    2. mallon
    3. rather
    4. rather
    5. 31230
    6. D·······
    7. rather
    8. rather
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126993
    1. δέ
    2. de
    3. and
    4. But
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126994
    1. γνωσθέντες
    2. ginōskō
    3. having been known
    4. -
    5. 10970
    6. VPAP·NMP
    7. ˓having_been˒ known
    8. ˓having_been˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 126995
    1. ὑπό
    2. hupo
    3. by
    4. -
    5. 52590
    6. P·······
    7. by
    8. by
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126996
    1. Θεοῦ
    2. theos
    3. god
    4. -
    5. 23160
    6. N····GMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y58; Person=God
    11. 126997
    1. πῶς
    2. pōs
    3. how
    4. -
    5. 44590
    6. D·······
    7. how
    8. how
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126998
    1. ἐπιστρέφετε
    2. epistrefō
    3. are you all turning back
    4. -
    5. 19940
    6. VIPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ turning_back
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ turning_back
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 126999
    1. πάλιν
    2. palin
    3. back
    4. -
    5. 38250
    6. D·······
    7. back
    8. back
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127000
    1. ἐπί
    2. epi
    3. to
    4. -
    5. 19090
    6. P·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127001
    1. τά
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····ANP
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127002
    1. ἀσθενῆ
    2. asthenēs
    3. weak
    4. -
    5. 7720
    6. A····ANP
    7. weak
    8. weak
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127003
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. and
    4. -
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127004
    1. πτωχείᾳ
    2. ptōχeia
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 44320
    6. N····DFS
    7. ˱to˲ poverty
    8. ˱to˲ poverty
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 127005
    1. πτωχά
    2. ptōχos
    3. poor
    4. -
    5. 44340
    6. A····ANP
    7. poor
    8. poor
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127006
    1. στοιχεῖα
    2. stoiχeion
    3. principles
    4. -
    5. 47470
    6. N····ANP
    7. principles
    8. principles
    9. -
    10. Y58; F127008
    11. 127007
    1. οἷς
    2. hos
    3. for which
    4. -
    5. 37390
    6. R····DNP
    7. ˱for˲ which
    8. ˱for˲ which
    9. -
    10. Y58; R127007
    11. 127008
    1. πάλιν
    2. palin
    3. again
    4. -
    5. 38250
    6. D·······
    7. again
    8. again
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127009
    1. ἄνωθεν
    2. anōthen
    3. again
    4. -
    5. 5090
    6. D·······
    7. again
    8. again
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127010
    1. δουλεύειν
    2. douleuō
    3. to be serving
    4. -
    5. 13980
    6. VNPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ serving
    8. ˓to_be˒ serving
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 127011
    1. δουλεῦσαι
    2. douleuō
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 13980
    6. VNAA····
    7. ˓to˒ serve
    8. ˓to˒ serve
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 127012
    1. θέλετε
    2. thelō
    3. you all are wanting
    4. -
    5. 23090
    6. VIPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ wanting
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ wanting
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 127013

OET (OET-LV) on_the_other_hand now having_known god, and rather having_been_known by god, how are_you_all_turning_back back to the weak and poor principles, for_which again you_all_are_wanting to_be_serving again?
?

OET (OET-RV) But now that you do know God, or rather now that God knows you, why would you turn back again to useless and inferior beliefs, to serve them all over again?

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:8–20: Paul begged the Galatians not to turn away from the true gospel

In this section, Paul again rebuked the Galatians for turning to the law and turning away from the true gospel. He begged them to change their thinking and their actions. He said that turning to the law put them back into the slavery that they were in before they knew Christ. He equated obeying the law with paganism. This is a startling and shocking comparison.

Paul appealed to the Galatians on the basis of the emotional bond between him and them. He reminded them of how that bond had developed and that it had resulted in their full acceptance of the true gospel. But now their turning away from the true gospel had perplexed him. He said that they were now like enemies because they followed the false teachers and had turned away from the true gospel.

But the false teachers were the real enemies. For selfish reasons, they taught the Galatians to add something to their faith. They taught them to obey the law. They were not working for the good of the Galatians.

Some possible headings for this section are:

The folly of turning to the law

Paul’s concern for the Galatians

Paragraph 4:8–11

In Greek this paragraph begins with a conjunction that introduces a contrast. The contrast is between the Galatians’ position as adopted sons in the family of God and their pre-Christian past. Some ways to begin this paragraph are:

But

However, (NASB)

Many English versions, including the BSB, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate it either.

4:9a

But now that you know God,

But: There is a contrast between 4:8 and 4:9. The contrast is between not knowing God (4:8a) and knowing God. The BSB introduces this contrast with the conjunction But.

Another way to translate this is:

However

now that you know God: This clause indicates that these Galatians had become believers.

Another way to translate this clause is:

now that you have come to know God (ESV)

4:9b

or rather are known by God,

or rather: The Greek word that the BSB translates as or rather indicates that Paul wanted to clarify what he had just said.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

or, I should say (GNT)

or better still (CEV)

actually

are known by God: The verb are known is a passive verb. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

4:9c

how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles?

how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this question to rebuke the Galatians strongly. He indicated that when the Galatians obey the laws of Moses such as circumcision, it was the same as returning to the pagan religion of their former lives. This was a startling and shocking statement.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to express a rebuke.

are turning back: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as are turning back indicates that the Galatians were returning to their pagan ways. They were abandoning the gospel and starting to follow the laws of Moses. It was the same as returning to customs that they previously obeyed before they became believers.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

return to follow/obey

turn back and become the slaves (CEV)

those weak and worthless principles: The adjectives weak and worthless indicate that the weak and worthless principles have no power to save us and are of no value.

The Greek word that the BSB translates as principles refers to the rules, laws, customs, and principles of this world. It is the same Greek word that was used in 4:3b. You should translate here as you did there.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

customs and law in this world that are weak and useless

those weak and useless rules (NCV)

those customs/teaching of our ancestors that have no power to save people and have no value

4:9d

Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?: This is a second rhetorical question, after the one in 4:9c. It continues Paul’s rebuke of the Galatians.

In Greek, 4:9c and 4:9d are part of the same sentence. Some ways to translate the rhetorical question here in 4:9d are:

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to express a rebuke.

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]

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

4:9 now that you know God: Christians have a relationship with God that is like a child to a parent rather than a slave to a master (4:5-7).
• why do you want to go back? Paul was perplexed (cp. 4:19-20) that Christians who had this standing would want to return to their old life of slavery.
• now that God knows you: God is the agent of salvation and had taken the initiative in laying their souls bare (cp. Ps 139:1-6, 23-24; Luke 2:34-35; Heb 4:12) and forgiving them freely.
• By turning to circumcision, the Galatians would be returning to the same useless spiritual principles of this world that they had known under paganism. In both cases, one must work to satisfy an unyielding master.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. on the other hand
    2. -
    3. 11610
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. on_the_other_hand
    8. on_the_other_hand
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126990
    1. now
    2. -
    3. 35680
    5. nun
    6. D-·······
    7. now
    8. now
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126989
    1. having known
    2. -
    3. 10970
    5. ginōskō
    6. V-PAA·NMP
    7. ˓having˒ known
    8. ˓having˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 126991
    1. god
    2. -
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····AMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y58; Person=God
    11. 126992
    1. and
    2. But
    3. 11610
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126994
    1. rather
    2. rather
    3. 31230
    5. mallon
    6. D-·······
    7. rather
    8. rather
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126993
    1. having been known
    2. -
    3. 10970
    5. ginōskō
    6. V-PAP·NMP
    7. ˓having_been˒ known
    8. ˓having_been˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 126995
    1. by
    2. -
    3. 52590
    5. hupo
    6. P-·······
    7. by
    8. by
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126996
    1. god
    2. -
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····GMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y58; Person=God
    11. 126997
    1. how
    2. -
    3. 44590
    5. pōs
    6. D-·······
    7. how
    8. how
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126998
    1. are you all turning back
    2. -
    3. 19940
    5. epistrefō
    6. V-IPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ turning_back
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ turning_back
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 126999
    1. back
    2. -
    3. 38250
    5. palin
    6. D-·······
    7. back
    8. back
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127000
    1. to
    2. -
    3. 19090
    5. epi
    6. P-·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127001
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····ANP
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127002
    1. weak
    2. -
    3. 7720
    5. asthenēs
    6. A-····ANP
    7. weak
    8. weak
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127003
    1. and
    2. -
    3. 25320
    5. kai
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127004
    1. poor
    2. -
    3. 44340
    5. ptōχos
    6. A-····ANP
    7. poor
    8. poor
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127006
    1. principles
    2. -
    3. 47470
    5. stoiχeion
    6. N-····ANP
    7. principles
    8. principles
    9. -
    10. Y58; F127008
    11. 127007
    1. for which
    2. -
    3. 37390
    5. hos
    6. R-····DNP
    7. ˱for˲ which
    8. ˱for˲ which
    9. -
    10. Y58; R127007
    11. 127008
    1. again
    2. -
    3. 38250
    5. palin
    6. D-·······
    7. again
    8. again
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127009
    1. you all are wanting
    2. -
    3. 23090
    5. thelō
    6. V-IPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ wanting
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ wanting
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 127013
    1. to be serving
    2. -
    3. 13980
    5. douleuō
    6. V-NPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ serving
    8. ˓to_be˒ serving
    9. -
    10. Y58; R126826
    11. 127011
    1. again
    2. -
    3. 5090
    5. anōthen
    6. D-·······
    7. again
    8. again
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 127010

OET (OET-LV) on_the_other_hand now having_known god, and rather having_been_known by god, how are_you_all_turning_back back to the weak and poor principles, for_which again you_all_are_wanting to_be_serving again?
?

OET (OET-RV) But now that you do know God, or rather now that God knows you, why would you turn back again to useless and inferior beliefs, to serve them all over again?

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 CNTR.

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◄ ← GAL 4:9 ↑ → ► ║ ©