OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 1:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ

John ˓is˒_testifying (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περί αὐτοῦ καί κέκραγεν λέγων Οὗτος ἦν ὅν εἶπον Ὁ ὀπίσω μού ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν μού γέγονεν ὅτι πρῶτος μού ἦν)

To call attention to a development in the story, John uses the present tense in past narration. If it would not be natural to do that in your language, you can use the past tense in your translation. Alternate translation: [John testified about him]

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περί αὐτοῦ καί κέκραγεν λέγων Οὗτος ἦν ὅν εἶπον Ὁ ὀπίσω μού ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν μού γέγονεν ὅτι πρῶτος μού ἦν)

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [and has cried out, and he said]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν.

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περί αὐτοῦ καί κέκραγεν λέγων Οὗτος ἦν ὅν εἶπον Ὁ ὀπίσω μού ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν μού γέγονεν ὅτι πρῶτος μού ἦν)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [This was the one I said would come after me, and who would be greater than me for he was before me]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περί αὐτοῦ καί κέκραγεν λέγων Οὗτος ἦν ὅν εἶπον Ὁ ὀπίσω μού ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν μού γέγονεν ὅτι πρῶτος μού ἦν)

John is speaking about Jesus. The phrase coming after me means that John’s ministry has already started, and Jesus’ ministry will start later. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state this plainly. Alternate translation: [He who starts his ministry after I have done so]

ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περί αὐτοῦ καί κέκραγεν λέγων Οὗτος ἦν ὅν εἶπον Ὁ ὀπίσω μού ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν μού γέγονεν ὅτι πρῶτος μού ἦν)

Alternate translation: [is more important than I am] or [is superior to me]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν

because (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περί αὐτοῦ καί κέκραγεν λέγων Οὗτος ἦν ὅν εἶπον Ὁ ὀπίσω μού ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν μού γέγονεν ὅτι πρῶτος μού ἦν)

Here, before me means that Jesus existed earlier in time than John. This does not mean that Jesus is more important because he is older than John in human years. Jesus is greater and more important than John because he is God the Son, who has always existed. Alternate translation: [for he existed before I was born]