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OET interlinear MAT 12:34

◄ ← MAT 12:34 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    1. Greek word
    2. Greek lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. Γεννήματα
    2. gennēma
    3. Brood
    4. -
    5. 10810
    6. N····VNP
    7. brood
    8. brood
    9. S
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7655
    1. γέννημα
    2. gennēma
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 10810
    6. N····VNS
    7. brood
    8. brood
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 7656
    1. ἐχιδνῶν
    2. eχidna
    3. of vipers
    4. -
    5. 21910
    6. N····GFP
    7. ˱of˲ vipers
    8. ˱of˲ vipers
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7657
    1. πῶς
    2. pōs
    3. how
    4. -
    5. 44590
    6. D·······
    7. how
    8. how
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7658
    1. δύνασθε
    2. dunamai
    3. are you all being able
    4. -
    5. 14100
    6. VIPM2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ being_able
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ being_able
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7659
    1. ἀγαθά
    2. agathos
    3. good things
    4. good
    5. 180
    6. S····ANP
    7. good ‹things›
    8. good ‹things›
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7660
    1. λαλεῖν
    2. laleō
    3. to be speaking
    4. -
    5. 29800
    6. VNPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ speaking
    8. ˓to_be˒ speaking
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7661
    1. πονηροί
    2. ponēros
    3. evil
    4. evil
    5. 41900
    6. S····NMP
    7. evil
    8. evil
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7662
    1. ὄντες
    2. eimi
    3. being
    4. -
    5. 15100
    6. VPPA·NMP
    7. being
    8. being
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7663
    1. ἐκ
    2. ek
    3. out of
    4. -
    5. 15370
    6. P·······
    7. out_of
    8. out_of
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7664
    1. Γάρ
    2. gar
    3. For/Because
    4. because
    5. 10630
    6. C·······
    7. for
    8. for
    9. S
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7665
    1. τοῦ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GNS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7666
    1. περισσεύματος
    2. perisseuma
    3. excess
    4. -
    5. 40510
    6. N····GNS
    7. excess
    8. excess
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7667
    1. τῆς
    2. ho
    3. of the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GFS
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7668
    1. καρδίας
    2. kardia
    3. heart
    4. hearts
    5. 25880
    6. N····GFS
    7. heart
    8. heart
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7669
    1. τό
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NNS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7670
    1. στόμα
    2. stoma
    3. mouth
    4. mouths
    5. 47500
    6. N····NNS
    7. mouth
    8. mouth
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7671
    1. λαλεῖ
    2. laleō
    3. is speaking
    4. -
    5. 29800
    6. VIPA3··S
    7. ˓is˒ speaking
    8. ˓is˒ speaking
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7672
    1. ἀγαθά
    2. agathos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 180
    6. S····NNP
    7. good ‹things›
    8. good ‹things›
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 7673

OET (OET-LV) Brood of_vipers, being evil how are_you_all_being_able to_be_speaking good things?
For/Because the mouth is_speaking out_of the excess of_the heart.

OET (OET-RV) You brood of snakes! You’re evil inside so why do you think you can say anything that’s good because your mouths speak out of what’s plentiful in your hearts.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:33–37: Your words show whether you are good or bad

In this section, Jesus continued to respond to the Pharisees’ accusation that he cast out evil spirits by the power of Satan. First, he said that the Pharisees needed to be consistent in their beliefs about him. Then he warned them that God would judge them for the words that they said.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

A tree is known by its fruit

A tree and its fruit

People know you by your words (NCV)

Paragraph 12:33–37

This paragraph begins a new section. In this paragraph Jesus continued speaking. In some languages, it may be natural to make it explicit that Jesus continued speaking. For example:

Jesus continued and said,

12:34a

You brood of vipers,

You brood of vipers: The word vipers refers to poisonous snakes. The phrase brood of vipers means “children/offspring of poisonous snakes.” It refers to having the same characteristics as vipers.

a viper

This phrase is a metaphor. (It also occurs in 3:7b.) In this metaphor, Jesus compared the Pharisees to a brood of vipers. Jesus used this metaphor to criticize the Pharisees.

The way that these men and snakes are similar is that both are evil and dangerous.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

If calling someone a poisonous snake is not an insult in your culture, you may also need to add something to make it more explicit. For example:

Jesus insulted/criticized them by saying

12:34b

how can you who are evil say anything good?

how can you who are evil say anything good?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to rebuke the Pharisees and to emphasize that they could not say anything good.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke and emphasis:

Translate this rebuke and emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

how can you who are evil say anything good: The phrase say anything good means say good words. The Pharisees did not say things that were good and positive. They said things that were harmful. This clause does not mean speak well/elegantly.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

how can you say good things (GNT)

speak what is good and right (NLT)

12:34c

For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

For: Verse 12:34c is the reason that the Pharisees cannot say anything good. Evil people cannot say anything good because the mouth says what is in the heart. The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the BSB translates as For.

Here are some other ways to introduce this reason:

You cannot do it because

That is true because

The reason you cannot do this is that

Some English versions do not translate this word. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this word either.

out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks: The Greek word that the BSB translates as overflow means “abundance” or “fullness.” It describes a quantity of something that fills a container so completely full that it overflows. In this clause it is used in a figurative way. It pictures a person’s heart so full of certain thoughts that they come out of his mouth. This means that a person acts and speaks according to what is in his heart.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

whatever is in/filling a person’s heart, that is what comes out of his mouth/lips

The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. (NCV)

Your words show what is in your hearts. (CEV)

What a person says comes from what is in his heart/thoughts

heart: In Greek culture, the heart is the center and source of inner life. This is where thinking, feeling, and decision- making happen. Some languages use a different organ such as “liver” for this concept. Or it may be a general term such as “insides.”

the mouth speaks: This clause means that the person speaks or says something. In some languages, a literal translation would not be natural. If that is the case in your language, you may want to change this phrase so as not to use the word mouth. For example:

a person speaks

what you say (NLT)

your words (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν & ὄντες

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Translate this metaphor as you did in [3:7](../03/07.md). Alternate translation: [You are like poisonous creatures! Being] or [You wicked people! Being]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

πονηροὶ ὄντες

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Here, the phrase being evil gives the reason why Jesus implies that the Pharisees cannot say good things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [since you are evil]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν

how ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_being_able (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Jesus is using the question form to rebuke the Pharisees for failing to speak good things. 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: [you are certainly not able to say good things] or [you are never able to say good things!]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Here, the word For introduces a reason why evil people cannot say good things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a claim, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [That is because] or [The reason you are not able to say good things is that]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐκ & τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας, τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

out_of & the excess ˱of˲_the heart (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Here Jesus speaks as if the heart were a container that could be full of an abundance of thoughts or desires. When the heart is full, it overflows out through the mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [whatever fills the heart comes out of the mouth] or [whatever is in the heart is what the mouth speaks]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

τῆς καρδίας, τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

˱of˲_the heart (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

The words heart and mouth represents people’s hearts and mouths in general, not one particular person’s heart and mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [of their hearts people’s mouths speak]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῆς καρδίας

˱of˲_the heart

In Matthew’s culture, the heart is the place where humans think and feel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate heart by referring to the place where humans think and feel in your culture or by stating the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of the thoughts] or [of the desires]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Here, the word mouth represents the person as a whole, in the act of speaking. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the person speaks]

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

12:22-45 The Messiah was rejected by the Pharisees, the teachers of religious law, and his own generation.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. Brood
    2. -
    3. 10810
    4. S
    5. gennēma
    6. N-····VNP
    7. brood
    8. brood
    9. S
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7655
    1. of vipers
    2. -
    3. 21910
    5. eχidna
    6. N-····GFP
    7. ˱of˲ vipers
    8. ˱of˲ vipers
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7657
    1. being
    2. -
    3. 15100
    5. eimi
    6. V-PPA·NMP
    7. being
    8. being
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7663
    1. evil
    2. evil
    3. 41900
    5. ponēros
    6. S-····NMP
    7. evil
    8. evil
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7662
    1. how
    2. -
    3. 44590
    5. pōs
    6. D-·······
    7. how
    8. how
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7658
    1. are you all being able
    2. -
    3. 14100
    5. dunamai
    6. V-IPM2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ being_able
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ being_able
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7659
    1. to be speaking
    2. -
    3. 29800
    5. laleō
    6. V-NPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ speaking
    8. ˓to_be˒ speaking
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7661
    1. good things
    2. good
    3. 180
    5. agathos
    6. S-····ANP
    7. good ‹things›
    8. good ‹things›
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7660
    1. For/Because
    2. because
    3. 10630
    4. S
    5. gar
    6. C-·······
    7. for
    8. for
    9. S
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7665
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NNS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7670
    1. mouth
    2. mouths
    3. 47500
    5. stoma
    6. N-····NNS
    7. mouth
    8. mouth
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7671
    1. is speaking
    2. -
    3. 29800
    5. laleō
    6. V-IPA3··S
    7. ˓is˒ speaking
    8. ˓is˒ speaking
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7672
    1. out of
    2. -
    3. 15370
    5. ek
    6. P-·······
    7. out_of
    8. out_of
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7664
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GNS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7666
    1. excess
    2. -
    3. 40510
    5. perisseuma
    6. N-····GNS
    7. excess
    8. excess
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7667
    1. of the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GFS
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7668
    1. heart
    2. hearts
    3. 25880
    5. kardia
    6. N-····GFS
    7. heart
    8. heart
    9. -
    10. Y31; TBlind_and_Dumb_Demoniac_and_Following_Discourse
    11. 7669

OET (OET-LV) Brood of_vipers, being evil how are_you_all_being_able to_be_speaking good things?
For/Because the mouth is_speaking out_of the excess of_the heart.

OET (OET-RV) You brood of snakes! You’re evil inside so why do you think you can say anything that’s good because your mouths speak out of what’s plentiful in your hearts.

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

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◄ ← MAT 12:34 ↑ → ► ║ ©