OET interlinear LUKE 23:31

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὅτι εἰ ἐν τῷ ὑγρῷ ξύλῳ, ταῦτα ποιοῦσιν; ἐν τῷ ξηρῷ, τί γένηται?

because if in the green tree these_‹things› ˱they˲_/are/_doing in the dry what /may/_become

This is a figure of speech based on the idea that dry wood catches fire much more easily than moist wood. The fire, in turn, represents terrible things that people will experience. Jesus is saying that under the present relatively stable conditions, it was difficult for his enemies to arrest him and sentence him to death. In the future, conditions will become so desperate and chaotic that people will be able to do much worse things much more easily. He is probably referring to what conditions will be like during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, which he described in 21:20–24. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the meaning of this metaphor in your translation, and you could represent the metaphor itself as a simile, as UST does. Alternate translation: [If people are able to do this when conditions are good, what will they do when conditions become very bad?]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ὅτι εἰ ἐν τῷ ὑγρῷ ξύλῳ, ταῦτα ποιοῦσιν; ἐν τῷ ξηρῷ, τί γένηται?

because if in the green tree these_‹things› ˱they˲_/are/_doing in the dry what /may/_become

Jesus does not expect the women to tell him what people will do in the future. Rather, he is using the question form for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [Since people are doing this when conditions are good, they will certainly do much worse when conditions become very bad!]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

ταῦτα ποιοῦσιν

these_‹things› ˱they˲_/are/_doing

Here Jesus is using the pronoun they in an indefinite sense. Alternate translation: [people are doing these things]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν τῷ ὑγρῷ ξύλῳ

in the green tree

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: [when the wood is fresh] or [when the wood is wet]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ξύλῳ

tree

Jesus is using the term tree to refer to wood that comes from a tree. Alternate translation: [wood]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ξύλῳ

tree

A tree is a large plant with a hard exterior that people use for fuel and as building material. If your readers would not know what a tree is, or if people do not use wood from a tree as fuel in your area, you could use the name of something else that they use for fuel, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [burning material]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν τῷ ξηρῷ

in the in the dry

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: [when the wood is dry]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ἐν τῷ ξηρῷ

in the in the dry

Jesus is using the adjective dry as a noun. In context, the term means dry wood. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could supply the noun for clarity. Alternate translation: [with dry wood] or [when the wood is dry]