OET interlinear MAT 26:38

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει

˱he˲_/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 can use the past tense in your translation. Alternate translation: “he said”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

περίλυπός ἐστιν ἡ ψυχή μου

very_sorrowful is the soul ˱of˲_me

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 something that Jesus was thinking about. Alternate translation: “Something grieves my soul very much” or “What I am thinking grieves my soul very much”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἐστιν ἡ ψυχή μου

is the soul ˱of˲_me

Here, soul refers to the whole person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I am very grieved”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἕως θανάτου

to death

Jesus is using the phrase to death to describe the extent of his grief. He uses this overstatement in order to show how very grieved he is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language that expresses great sorrow, or you could express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: “so much so that I cannot stand it much longer” or “as if I were about to die”