OET interlinear MAT 11:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

and

Here, the word Now introduces the next event in the story. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next event, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: “Then,”

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

τούτων

these

The pronoun these refers to John’s disciples. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer more directly to these people. Alternate translation: “John’s disciples”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι? κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον?

what ˱you_all˲_came_out into the desert /to/_see /a/_reed by wind /being/_shaken

Jesus is using the question form to teach the crowds about John. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate these questions as statements or exclamations. Alternate translation: “Surely you did not go out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind!” or “I know what you went out into the wilderness to see. It was not a reed shaken by the wind.”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι

what ˱you_all˲_came_out into the desert /to/_see

Here Jesus implies that the people went out to see and hear John the Baptist. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “When you visited John in the wilderness, what did you go out to see”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον

/a/_reed by wind /being/_shaken

Here, the phrase a reed being shaken by the wind could describe: (1) a person who changes his or her mind or message whenever there is any trouble or difficulty, just like a reed moves whenever the wind blows. Alternate translation: “a man who changes his message whenever it is convenient” or “a man who changes his mind as easily as a reed is shaken by the wind” (2) something or someone ordinary, just like a reed being shaken by the wind was a common or normal sight in Matthew’s culture. Alternate translation: “something ordinary, like a reed being shaken by the wind”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον

/a/_reed by wind /being/_shaken

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “a reed that the wind shakes”