OET interlinear MAT 23:24

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁδηγοὶ τυφλοί!

guides blind

Here, Jesus speaks of the scribes and Pharisees as if they were blind guides. He means that they do not know what is right, but they teach people anyways, even though what they teach is wrong. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar phrase in 23:16. Alternate translation: “You who are like blind guides” or “You who teach people what is wrong”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἱ διϋλίζοντες τὸν κώνωπα τὴν δὲ κάμηλον καταπίνοντες!

you_all straining_out the gnat the and camel swallowing_up

Here Jesus speaks as if the scribes and Pharisees were straining out a tiny gnat if they found one in a drink but swallowing a large camel whole without noticing it. He means that they are being careful to follow the less important laws but failing to notice that they were not following the more important laws. If it would be helpful for your readers, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who are like a person who strains a gnat out of a drink but swallows a camel” or “the ones carefully obeying the less significant laws but failing to obey the more significant laws”

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τὸν κώνωπα

the gnat

A gnat is a tiny flying insect. If your readers would not be familiar with what a gnat is, in your translation you could use the name of a comparable insect in your area, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “the mosquito” or “the tiny insect”