OET interlinear LUKE 15:29

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ, ἰδοὺ, τοσαῦτα ἔτη δουλεύω σοι, καὶ οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον, καὶ ἐμοὶ οὐδέποτε ἔδωκας ἔριφον, ἵνα μετὰ τῶν φίλων μου εὐφρανθῶ

he and answering said ˱to˲_the father ˱of˲_him behold so_many years ˱I˲_/am/_serving ˱for˲_you and never /a/_commandment ˱of˲_you ˱I˲_passed_by and ˱to˲_me never ˱you˲_gave /a/_young_goat in_order_that with the friends ˱of˲_me ˱I˲_/may_be/_gladdened

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [But he responded to his father that even though he had been slaving for him for so many years and had never disobeyed one of his commands, his father had never given him a young goat so that he could celebrate with his friends]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

ὁ & ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν

he & answering said

Together the words answering and said mean that the older son said what follows in response to his father’s pleadings. Alternate translation: [he responded]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

behold

The older son uses Behold to get his father to focus his attention on what he is about to say. Alternate translation: [Now listen]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

δουλεύω σοι

˱I˲_/am/_serving ˱for˲_you

To emphasize how hard he believes he has worked for his father, the older son describes himself as a slave. You could translate this metaphor as a simile. Alternate translation: [I have been working like a slave for you]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον

never /a/_commandment ˱of˲_you ˱I˲_passed_by

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this double negative as a positive statement. Alternate translation: [I have always done what you told me to do]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον

never /a/_commandment ˱of˲_you ˱I˲_passed_by

To emphasize how carefully he believes he has obeyed his father, the older son makes a figurative generalization and says never. Alternate translation: [I have not disobeyed your commands] or [I have done what you told me to do]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἔριφον

/a/_young_goat

A young goat was smaller and much less expensive than a fatted calf. The son’s implication is that his father has not done even a small thing to show appreciation for him. You could express that more explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: [even a young goat]