OET interlinear MAT 18:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε

if the eye ˱of˲_you /is/_stumbling you

Jesus is suggesting that this is a hypothetical condition, that the disciples might experience their eye causing them to stumble. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a situation that could happen. See how you translated the similar clause in 18:8. Alternate translation: “consider this situation: your eye causes you to stumble. If that were to happen”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε

the eye ˱of˲_you /is/_stumbling you

Here, Jesus speaks of your eye as if it were a person who could cause you to stumble. He means that the eye 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. See how you translated the similar clause in 18:8. Alternate translation: “it is your eye’s fault that you stumble” or “you stumble with your eye”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σου & σε & σοῦ & σοί

˱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 4 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. See how you translated this phrase in 18:8. Alternate translation: “causes you to sin”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ

pluck_out 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 construction in 18:8. Alternate translation: “if necessary you should even pluck it out and throw it away from you!”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν

into ¬the life /to/_come_in

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. See how you translated this phrase in 18:8. Alternate translation: “to experience life” or “to receive life”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν

into ¬the life /to/_come_in

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 8 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. See how you translated the idea in 18:8. Alternate translation: “true life” or “everlasting life”

Note 9 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 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὴν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός

¬the the Gehenna ¬the ˱of˲_fire

Here Jesus uses the name Gehenna to refer to hell. The valley named Gehenna was outside the city of Jerusalem and was a place where people threw out and burned garbage. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “a place of fire like the valley of Gehenna” or “fiery hell, which is like Gehenna valley”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὴν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός

¬the the Gehenna ¬the ˱of˲_fire

Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe Gehenna as a place that has much fire. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the fiery Gehenna” or “the fires in Gehenna”