OET interlinear MAT 12:29

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἢ

or

Here, Jesus uses the word Or to introduce another explanation of the same point that he has been making. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces an alternate explanation, or you could leave Or untranslated. Alternate translation: “In other words,” or “Think about it this way:”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parables

ἢ πῶς δύναταί τις

or how /is/_able anyone

To help the Pharisees understand what he has been saying, Jesus offers a brief illustration. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. For an explanation of this parable, see the chapter introduction. Alternate translation: “Here is an illustration of what I mean: how is anyone able”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ πῶς δύναταί τις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον δήσῃ τὸν ἰσχυρόν?

or how /is/_able anyone /to/_come_in into the house ˱of˲_the strong_‹man› and the goods ˱of˲_him /to/_snatch if not first ˱he˲_/may/_bind the strong_‹man›

Jesus is using the question form to show that a strong man must be tied up before someone can steal his possessions. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “No one is able to enter into the house of the strong man and steal his possessions if he has not first tied up the strong man.” or “It is impossible for anyone to enter into the house of the strong man and steal his possessions if he has not first bound the strong man!”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

πῶς δύναταί τις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον δήσῃ τὸν ἰσχυρόν

how /is/_able anyone /to/_come_in into the house ˱of˲_the strong_‹man› and the goods ˱of˲_him /to/_snatch if not first ˱he˲_/may/_bind the strong_‹man›

If, in your language, it would appear that Jesus was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: “how, unless he has first bound the strong man, is anyone able to enter into the house of that strong man and steal his belongings”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

μὴ πρῶτον δήσῃ & διαρπάσει

not first ˱he˲_/may/_bind & ˱he˲_/will_be/_thoroughly_plundering

Although the term he in both these places is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “that person has not first bound … that person will plunder”

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει

˱of˲_him ˱of˲_him ˱he˲_/will_be/_thoroughly_plundering

Here, the word he refers to the person who is stealing. The word his refers to the strong man. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer to these people more directly. Alternate translation: “the thief will plunder the strong man’s”