OET interlinear MAT 13:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For could introduce: (1) a reason why God reveals the mysteries of the kingdom to some people and not to other people. Alternate translation: “That is because” or “Here is why that happens:” (2) an explanation concerning why God reveals the mysteries of the kingdom to some people and not to other people. Alternate translation: “Indeed,” or “Here is what I mean:”

Note 2 topic: writing-proverbs

ὅστις & ἔχει, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ καὶ περισσευθήσεται; ὅστις δὲ οὐκ ἔχει, καὶ ὃ ἔχει ἀρθήσεται ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ

whoever & /is/_having /will_be_being/_given ˱to˲_him and ˱he˲_/will_be_being/_in_abundance whoever but not /is/_having even what ˱he˲_/is/_having /will_be_being/_taken_away from him

Here, Jesus uses or invents a proverb in order to teach that people who have something usually gain more of it, while people who have very little usually lose everything. Translate this proverb in a way that will be recognized as a proverb and be meaningful in your language and culture. Alternate translation: “people who have things receive more, and they have an abundance. But people who do not have things lose what they used to have”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὅστις & ἔχει, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ καὶ περισσευθήσεται; ὅστις δὲ οὐκ ἔχει, καὶ ὃ ἔχει ἀρθήσεται ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ

whoever & /is/_having /will_be_being/_given ˱to˲_him and ˱he˲_/will_be_being/_in_abundance whoever but not /is/_having even what ˱he˲_/is/_having /will_be_being/_taken_away from him

Here Jesus implies that what the person has or does not have is knowledge or understanding about the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (see 13:11). If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “whoever has understanding, it will be given to him, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have understanding, even what he has will be taken away from him” or “whoever has knowledge about the kingdom, more will be given to him, and he will have an abundance of knowledge. But whoever does not have knowledge about the kingdom, even what knowledge he has will be taken away from him”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δοθήσεται & ἀρθήσεται

/will_be_being/_given & /will_be_being/_taken_away

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. If you need to say who does the action, it is clear from the context that it is God. Alternate translation: “God will give … God will take away”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

αὐτῷ καὶ περισσευθήσεται & ὃ ἔχει & αὐτοῦ

˱to˲_him and ˱he˲_/will_be_being/_in_abundance & what ˱he˲_/is/_having & him

Although the terms him and he are masculine in this verse, Jesus is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “to that person, and he or she will have an abundance … what that person has … him or her”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

περισσευθήσεται

˱he˲_/will_be_being/_in_abundance

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of abundance, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “he will abound” or “he will have very much”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ὅστις δὲ οὐκ ἔχει

whoever whoever but not /is/_having

Jesus says whoever does not have here as a generalization for emphasis. It is clear in the second half of the sentence that the person did have something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: “But whoever has almost nothing” or “But whoever does not have much”