OET interlinear MAT 18:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε καὶ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν Βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν

if not ˱you_all˲_/may_be/_turned and /may/_become as the little_children by_no_means not ˱you_all˲_/may/_come_in into the Kingdom ˱of˲_the Heavens

If, in your language, it would appear that Jesus was contradicting a statement that he was about to make, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [you will only enter into the kingdom of the heavens if you turn and become like little children]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὑμῖν & στραφῆτε & οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε

˱to˲_you_all & ˱you_all˲_/may_be/_turned & by_no_means not ˱you_all˲_/may/_come_in

Throughout this verse, the word you is plural because Jesus is speaking to his disciples.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

στραφῆτε

˱you_all˲_/may_be/_turned

Here, Jesus is speaking of changing one’s attitude and behavior as if it were physically turning. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you change your attitude] or [you act differently]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

καὶ γένησθε

and and /may/_become

Here, the word and introduces the goal for which the disciples should turn. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a goal. Alternate translation: [in order to become]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία

/may/_become as the little_children

Jesus is saying that his disciples should be like little children because little children are humble. Jesus clarifies this meaning in the following verse, so if possible you should not state this explicitly here. Alternate translation: [act as little children do]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ μὴ

by_no_means not

The words translated certainly not are two negative words. In this construction, the second negative does not cancel the first to create a positive meaning. Instead, it gives greater emphasis to the negative. If your language can use two negatives that do not cancel one another to create a positive meaning, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in that way, you could translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [by no means]