OET interlinear MAT 12:40

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For introduces an explanation of “the sign of Jonah” (see 12:39). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: “Here is that sign:” or “Now”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὥσπερ & ἦν Ἰωνᾶς ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ τοῦ κήτους τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας

as & was Jonah in the belly ˱of˲_the huge_fish three days and three nights

Here Jesus refers to part of the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to preach to people in the town of Nineveh, but Jonah ran away instead. God had a big fish swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside this fish for three days and three nights. After that, God had the fish spit Jonah out. You can read this story in Jonah 1–2. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include some extra information in your translation or in a footnote. Alternate translation: “just as Jonah was swallowed by a big fish and was in its belly for three days and three nights before it spit him out”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

(Occurrence -1) τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὥσπερ γὰρ ἦν Ἰωνᾶς ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ τοῦ κήτους τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας οὕτως ἔσται ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας)

The phrase three days and three nights refers to three periods of 24 hours in a row. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression. Alternate translation: “three straight days … three straight days”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

(Occurrence -1) τῇ κοιλίᾳ τοῦ κήτους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὥσπερ γὰρ ἦν Ἰωνᾶς ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ τοῦ κήτους τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας οὕτως ἔσται ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας)

Here, the phrase big fish refers to any large creature that lives in the sea or ocean. Its belly is its stomach. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of sea creature, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “the stomach of the large sea creature” or “the stomach of the sea monster”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου

the Son ¬the ˱of˲_Man

Here Jesus speaks about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the first person. Alternate translation: “the Son of Man, that is, me,”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας

in the in the heart ˱of˲_the earth three days and three nights

Here Jesus implies that after the three days and three nights he will no longer be in the heart of the earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, and then he will arise”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς

in the in the heart ˱of˲_the earth

Here, the phrase the heart of the earth refers to how people are buried deep in the ground. Jesus means that he will be in a tomb for three days and three nights. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “deep in the ground” or “in a grave”