OET interlinear MAT 20:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

εἶπεν αὐτῇ, τί θέλεις?

said ˱to˲_her what ˱you˲_/are/_wanting

It may be more natural in your language to have an indirect quotation here. Alternate translation: “asked her what she desired.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

θέλεις

˱you˲_/are/_wanting

Because Jesus is speaking to the mother of the sons of Zebedee, the word you is singular.

Note 3 topic: translate-tense

λέγει

˱she˲_/is/_saying

To call attention to a development in the story, Matthew uses the present tense in past narration. If it would not be natural to do that in your language, you could use the past tense in your translation. Alternate translation: “She said”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

εἰπὲ

say

This is an imperative, but it should be translated as a polite request rather than as a command. It may be helpful to add an expression such as “please” to make this clear. Alternate translation: “I ask that you say”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

εἰπὲ & δεξιῶν & σου & σου

say & /the/_right & ˱of˲_you & ˱of˲_you

Because the mother of the sons of Zebedee is speaking to Jesus, the command the word your are singular throughout what she says.

Note 6 topic: translate-symaction

καθίσωσιν & εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου

/may/_sit_down & one on /the/_right and one on /the/_left ˱of˲_you

When someone sits at the right hand or at the left hand of a ruler, this symbolizes that person’s honor, authority, and ability to rule. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea explicitly. Alternate translation: “might sit down to rule, one at your right hand and one at your left hand” or “might took the places of honor and authority, one at your right hand and one at your left hand”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου

one on /the/_right and one on /the/_left ˱of˲_you

Here, the phrases at your right hand and at your left hand refer to the places next to Jesus’ right and left hands, which would be the right side and the left side. In the Jesus’ culture, these sides were associated with honor or authority. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the “right side” and “left side.” Make sure that your readers understand that these sides indicate that the two sons of Zebedee would have honor and authority when they sits there. Alternate translation: “one at your right side and one at your left side” or “one in the honorable place at your right and one in the honorable place at your left”