OET interlinear LUKE 3:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης

answered saying ˱to˲_all ¬the John

John’s statement clearly implies that John himself is not the Messiah. It may be helpful to state this explicitly for your readers. Alternate translation: [John clarified that he was not the Messiah by saying to them all]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων & ὁ Ἰωάννης

answered saying & ¬the John

Together the words answered and saying mean that John responded to what the people were wondering about him. Alternate translation: [John responded]

ἐγὼ μὲν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης Ἐγώ μέν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς ἔρχεται δέ ὁ ἰσχυρότερος μού οὗ οὐκ εἰμί ἱκανός λῦσαι τόν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ αὐτός ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καί πυρί)

Alternate translation: [I indeed baptize you using water] or [I indeed baptize you by means of water]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ

not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης Ἐγώ μέν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς ἔρχεται δέ ὁ ἰσχυρότερος μού οὗ οὐκ εἰμί ἱκανός λῦσαι τόν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ αὐτός ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καί πυρί)

Untying the straps of sandals was a duty of a slave. John is saying implicitly that the one who is coming will be so great that he is not even worthy to be his slave. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [I am not even worthy to be his slave]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, καὶ πυρί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης Ἐγώ μέν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς ἔρχεται δέ ὁ ἰσχυρότερος μού οὗ οὐκ εἰμί ἱκανός λῦσαι τόν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ αὐτός ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καί πυρί)

John is using literal baptism, which puts a person under water, to speak of spiritual baptism, which puts people under the influence of the Holy Spirit, who purifies them. Alternate translation: [He will put you under the influence of the Holy Spirit, who will purify you]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει & πυρί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης Ἐγώ μέν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς ἔρχεται δέ ὁ ἰσχυρότερος μού οὗ οὐκ εἰμί ἱκανός λῦσαι τόν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ αὐτός ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καί πυρί)

The word fire is intended, and it suggests a fuller metaphor. Jesus will not immerse people in actual fire. Be sure that this is clear to your readers. Alternate translation: [He will baptize you … to purify you, as precious metals are purified in fire] or [He will baptize you … clear away your sins, as fire clears away underbrush]