OET interlinear HEB 12:20

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For introduces a reason why the Israelites “begged for not a word to be added” (12:19). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces a reason. Alternate translation: “That was because” or “They begged for this since”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὸ διαστελλόμενον

the_‹thing› /being/_instructing

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. The author uses the passive form here to focus on what was ordered rather than on the person doing the ordering. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it. Alternate translation: “what God ordered”

Note 3 topic: writing-quotations

τὸ διαστελλόμενον

the_‹thing› /being/_instructing

Here the author quotes from an important text, the Old Testament scriptures. He does not introduce the words as a quotation but instead introduces them as something that God ordered the Israelites to do. However, the audience would have understood that these were words from the Old Testament, specifically a summary of parts of Exodus 19:12–13. If your readers would not know that the quotation is from the Old Testament, you could include a footnote or use some other form to identify it. Alternate translation: “what was ordered when God said”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

κἂν θηρίον θίγῃ τοῦ ὄρους, λιθοβοληθήσεται

even_if /a/_wild_beast /may/_touch ˱of˲_the mountain ˱it˲_/will_be_being/_stoned

Here God uses the conditional form to require anyone who “touches” the mountain to be stoned. If the conditional form does not indicate a cause and effect relationship like this in your language, you could express the if statement in a way that does show the relationship. Alternate translation: “Were even an animal to touch the mountain, it must be stoned” or “Suppose even an animal touches the mountain. In that case, it must be stoned”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κἂν θηρίον

even_if /a/_wild_beast

Here, the phrase even an animal implies that humans are certainly included, and even animals too are included. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that this command refers to both humans and animals. Alternate translation: “If a human or even an animal”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

λιθοβοληθήσεται

˱it˲_/will_be_being/_stoned

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. The author uses the passive form here to focus on what is stoned rather than on who does the stoning. If you must state who would do the action, the author implies that the Israelites themselves would do it. Alternate translation: “you must stone it”