OET interlinear HEB 12:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὑστερῶν ἀπὸ

falling_short (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τὶς ὑστερῶν ἀπό τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ μή τὶς ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ καί διʼ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν οἱ πολλοί)

The phrase falling short from refers to lacking something or failing to get something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to failing to attain something or not having something. Alternate translation: [is lacking] or [fails to receive]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ

the grace ¬the ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of grace, you could express the idea by using an adverb such as “kindly” or “graciously.” Alternate translation: [what God graciously does] or [how God acts kindly]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μή τις ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ

lest lest (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τὶς ὑστερῶν ἀπό τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ μή τὶς ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ καί διʼ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν οἱ πολλοί)

The author speaks of “bitter” or resentful thinking and behavior as if it were a root that could “grow up” and produce something, in this case trouble. The author speaks of bitterness as a plant in order to show how even a little bitterness can lead to much trouble, just like a small root grows into a large plant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or plain language. Alternate translation: [not any bitterness is, like a root, growing up to cause trouble] or [not any little bitterness is spreading to cause trouble]

μή τις ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα

lest lest (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τὶς ὑστερῶν ἀπό τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ μή τὶς ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ καί διʼ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν οἱ πολλοί)

These words are very similar to the second half of [Deuteronomy 29:17](../deu/29/17.md). The author does not seem to be quoting directly from Deuteronomy, but the language is similar enough that you may want to include a footnote that indicates the similarity.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ῥίζα πικρίας

root ˱of˲_bitterness

The author uses the possessive form to describe: (1) a root that is “bitter.” Alternate translation: [bitter root] or [root, that is, bitterness,] (2) a root that produces things that are “bitter.” Alternate translation: [root that produces bitter things]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐνοχλῇ

˓may_be˒_troubling

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of trouble, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “trouble” or “annoy.” Alternate translation: [to trouble people] or [to annoy people]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δι’ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν πολλοί

by it ˓may_be˒_defiled (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τὶς ὑστερῶν ἀπό τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ μή τὶς ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ καί διʼ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν οἱ πολλοί)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [this might defile many]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτῆς

it

The word this refers to the root of bitterness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make whom this refers to explicit. Alternate translation: [this root]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μιανθῶσιν

˓may_be˒_defiled

The phrase become defiled refers to being directly affected by something bad or nasty. In this case, the author’s point is that being exposed to the root of bitterness might affect many believers so that they also become “bitter.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea more explicitly. Alternate translation: [might be affected] or [might also become bitter]