OET interlinear MAT 23:19

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

μωροὶ καὶ τυφλοί

foolish and blind

Jesus is using the adjectives Foolish and blind as nouns to mean foolish and blind people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate these words with equivalent phrases. See how you expressed the idea in 23:17. Alternate translation: “You foolish and blind people”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

μωροὶ καὶ τυφλοί

foolish and blind

The terms Foolish and blind mean similar things. Jesus is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. See how you expressed the idea in 23:17. Alternate translation: “Blind ones” or “Very foolish”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τυφλοί

blind

Here, Jesus speaks of the scribes and Pharisees as if they were blind. He means that they do not know what is right. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. See how you expressed the idea in 23:17. Alternate translation: “like blind people” or “not knowing what is right”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For introduces an explanation of why the teaching of the Pharisees about oaths is wrong. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. See how you expressed the idea in 23:17. Alternate translation: “Think about this:” or “You should know this:”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί & μεῖζον, τὸ δῶρον, ἢ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ἁγιάζον τὸ δῶρον?

which & greater the gift or the altar ¬which sanctifying the gift

Jesus is using the question form to rebuke the religious leaders. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “the altar sanctifying the gift is greater than the gift.” or “Certainly the gift is not greater than the altar that sanctifies the gift!”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸ δῶρον & τὸ δῶρον

the gift & the ¬which the gift (Some words not found in SR-GNT: μωροὶ καὶ τυφλοί τί γὰρ μεῖζον τὸ δῶρον ἢ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ἁγιάζον τὸ δῶρον)

Here, the word gift refers to an offering that is sacrificed to God on the altar. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make that idea more explicit. See how you translated this word in 23:18. Alternate translation: “what is offered … what is offered” or “the offering … the offering”