OET interlinear HEB 12:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

εἶτα & μὲν & δὲ

thereafter & indeed & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα οὐ πολὺ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ Πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ ζήσομεν)

Here, the word Furthermore indicates that the author is about to make another argument for why the audience should accept God’s discipline. The phrase on the one hand indicates that this argument is in two parts. The second part begins with the phrase on the other hand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use words and phrases that clearly introduce a further argument that is in two parts. Alternate translation: “In addition, at one time … but now”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τοὺς & τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας

the & ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_us fathers

The author is referring to physical descent by association with the way that the physical body is composed of flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to these kinds of fathers in contrast to God as a Father. Alternate translation: “our physical fathers” or “our earthly fathers”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐ πολὺ & μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ Πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων, καὶ ζήσομεν?

not much & rather ˱we˲_/will_be_being/_subjected ˱to˲_the Father ¬the ˱of˲_spirits and ˱we˲_/will_be/_living

The author is using the question form to encourage the audience to agree with him. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate the question as an exhortation or exclamation. Alternate translation: “we should much more be subjected to the Father of the spirits and live.” or “we will much more be subjected to the Father of the spirits and live!”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὐ πολὺ & μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα

not much & rather ˱we˲_/will_be_being/_subjected

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. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that “we” subject ourselves. Alternate translation: “will we not much more subject ourselves” or “will we not much more submit”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῷ Πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων

˱to˲_the Father ¬the ˱of˲_spirits

Here the author uses the possessive form to indicate that God is Father in connection with the spirits, probably the spirits of the author and audience. The author uses this construction to contrast God as Father with the fathers of our flesh. So, God is a Father in relation to our spirits, while humans are fathers in relation to our flesh. If possible, use a construction that is similar to how you translated fathers of our flesh. Alternate translation: “to the heavenly Father” or “to the Father in heaven”

τῶν πνευμάτων

¬the ˱of˲_spirits

Here, the phrase the spirits could refer to: (1) the spirits of the author and audience, in contrast to their flesh. Alternate translation: “of our spirits” (2) all spirits, including human spirits and angels, who are spirits (See: 1:7). Alternate translation: “of all spirits”

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

καὶ ζήσομεν

and and ˱we˲_/will_be/_living

Here, the word and introduces the result of being subjected to the Father of the spirits. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a result. Alternate translation: “so that we will live”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ζήσομεν

˱we˲_/will_be/_living

Here, the word live refers to receiving eternal life from God, not just to staying alive. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “receive everlasting life”