OET interlinear MAT 21:31

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τῶν δύο

the two

Jesus is using the number two as a noun to refer to the two children. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this number with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [the two of them]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τό θέλημα τοῦ πατρός Λέγουσιν Ὁ πρῶτος λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καί αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of will, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what his father desired]

Note 3 topic: translate-tense

λέγουσιν & λέγει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τό θέλημα τοῦ πατρός Λέγουσιν Ὁ πρῶτος λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καί αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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: [They said … said]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ὁ πρῶτος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τό θέλημα τοῦ πατρός Λέγουσιν Ὁ πρῶτος λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καί αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ)

The chief priests and the scribes are using the ordinal number first as a noun to refer to the first child. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this number with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [The first child]

Note 5 topic: translate-ordinal

ὁ πρῶτος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τό θέλημα τοῦ πατρός Λέγουσιν Ὁ πρῶτος λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καί αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ)

If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you could use a cardinal number here or an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: [Child one]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Βασιλείαν Θεοῦ

˓are˒_going_before you_all into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τό θέλημα τοῦ πατρός Λέγουσιν Ὁ πρῶτος λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καί αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τήν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ)

Jesus could be implying that: (1) the tax collectors and prostitutes enter into the kingdom of God first, and at least some of the chief priests and elders will enter later. Alternate translation: [enter into the kingdom of God first, before you do]; (2) the tax collectors and prostitutes enter into the kingdom of God instead of the chief priests and elders. Alternate translation: [enter into the kingdom of God instead of you]