OET interlinear HEB 1:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, φέρων τε τὰ πάντα τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ, καθαρισμὸν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ποιησάμενος, ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς Μεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς

who being /the/_radiance ˱of˲_his glory and /the/_representation ˱of˲_the reality ˱of˲_him bearing and the_‹things› all ˱by˲_the word ˱of˲_the power ˱of˲_him /the/_purification ¬the ˱of˲_sins /having/_made sat_down at /the/_right_‹hand› ˱of˲_the Majesty on high

Here the author includes a long description of who the “Son” is. The phrases being the brightness of his glory and exact representation of his being and upholding all the things by the word of his power describe what the “Son” always is and does. The phrase having made cleansing for sins refers more specifically to what the “Son” has done and completed before he sat down at the right hand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make it clearer that the phrase having made purification for sins refers to something that happened before sat down, while the previous phrases all refer to things that the “Son” always is and does. Alternate translation: “who is the brightness of his glory and exact representation of his being and who upholds all the things by the word of his power. After having made purification for sins, he sat down at the right of the Majesty on high”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ

/the/_radiance ˱of˲_his glory and /the/_representation ˱of˲_the reality ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of brightness, glory, representation, and being, you could express the ideas by using verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. Alternate translation: “brightly glorious like he is and exactly representing who he is”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ

/the/_radiance ˱of˲_his glory and

Here the author speaks as if the “Son” had the brightness that belongs to God’s glory, which is pictured here as being like a bright light. The author speaks in this way to emphasize that the Son “shines” with the glory that only God has. He means that the “Son” is God and represents God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the reflection of his glory and” or “one who has the glory of God and the”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

φέρων & τὰ πάντα

bearing & the_‹things› all

Here the author speaks as if the Son were standing underneath all the things and holding them up so that they did not fall. He speaks in this way to indicate that everything continues to exist only because the Son works to make it continue. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “preserving all the things” or “supporting all things”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ

˱by˲_the word ˱of˲_the power ˱of˲_him

Here, the word word refers to speaking “words” or “messages.” It does not refer to one word that the Son speaks. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to how the Son speaks. Alternate translation: “through his powerful speech” or “by how he speaks with power”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ

˱by˲_the word ˱of˲_the power ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of power, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “powerful.” Alternate translation: “by his powerful word”

Note 7 topic: translate-symaction

ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ

sat_down at /the/_right_‹hand›

When someone sits at the right of God, it symbolizes that person’s honor, authority, and ability to rule. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea explicitly. Alternate translation: “he sat down to rule at the right” or “he took the place of honor and authority at the right”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς Μεγαλωσύνης

at /the/_right_‹hand› ˱of˲_the Majesty

Here, the phrase at the right refers to the place next to a person’s right hand, which would be the “right side.” In the author’s culture, this side was associated with honor or authority. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the “right side.” Make sure that your readers understand that this side indicates that the Son has honor and authority when he sits there. Alternate translation: “at the right side of the Majesty” or “in the honorable place next to the Majesty”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism

τῆς Μεγαλωσύνης

˱of˲_his ˱of˲_the ˱of˲_the ˱of˲_the Majesty

In the author’s culture, it was considered reverent to avoid saying God’s name. Here the author uses Majesty instead of God’s name in order to follow this custom and to indicate that God is powerful and glorious. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a reverent way to refer to God in your culture, especially if it emphasizes how God is powerful and glorious. Alternate translation: “of the great deity” or “of the glorious God”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν ὑψηλοῖς

at on high

Here, the phrase on high identifies the location of the right of the Majesty, which is where the Son sat down. This location is in heaven. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that it means that Jesus ascended into heaven, which is where the right side is. Alternate translation: “in heaven” or “on high, in heaven”