OET interlinear MAT 18:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

and

Here, the word Now introduces the next topic about which Jesus will speak. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next topic, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: “Next,”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & ἡ χείρ σου ἢ ὁ πούς σου σκανδαλίζει σε

if & the hand ˱of˲_you or the foot ˱of˲_you /is/_stumbling you

Jesus is suggesting that this is a hypothetical condition, that the disciples might experience their hand or foot causing them to stumble. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a situation that could happen. See how you translated the similar clauses in 5:29–30. Alternate translation: “consider this situation: your hand or foot causes you to stumble. If that were to happen”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ἡ χείρ σου ἢ ὁ πούς σου σκανδαλίζει σε

the hand ˱of˲_you or the foot ˱of˲_you /is/_stumbling you

Here, Jesus speaks of your hand and your foot as if they were people who could cause you to stumble. He means that the hand or the foot is the part of the body that is involved in the stumbling. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “it is your hand’s or your foot’s fault that you stumble” or “you stumble with your hand or your foot”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σου & σου & σε & σοῦ & σοί

˱of˲_you & ˱of˲_you & you & you & ˱for˲_you

Even though Jesus is speaking to many disciples, he is addressing an individual situation, so you and your are singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms of you and your in your translation. If you do so, you may also need to make some other words plural.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σκανδαλίζει σε

/is/_stumbling you

Here, Jesus is speaking of sinning as if it were stumbling. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “causes you to sin”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἔκκοψον αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ

cut_off it and cast_‹it› from you

Here Jesus provides the most extreme response to sinning. He does not mean that this should be the normal way to deal with sin. You should preserve the extreme language Jesus uses, but use a form that indicates that this is the most extreme example. See how you translated the similar constructions in 5:29–30. Alternate translation: “if necessary you should even cut it off and throw it away from you!”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν

/to/_come_in into ¬the life

Here Jesus speaks as if life were a house into which someone could enter. He is referring to experiencing or receiving life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “to experience life” or “to receive life”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν

/to/_come_in into ¬the life

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of life, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “to be able to live”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν ζωὴν

¬the life

Here Jesus implies that this life is everlasting or undying life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “true life” or “everlasting life”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

βληθῆναι

/to_be/_cast

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 did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: “for God to throw you”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον

the fire ¬the eternal

Here, the phrase the eternal fire refers to hell and describes at as a very unpleasant place. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “hell, which is as hot as an eternal fire” or “hell”