OET interlinear MAT 26:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-participants

προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ γυνὴ ἔχουσα ἀλάβαστρον μύρου βαρυτίμου

approached ˱to˲_him (Some words not found in SR-GNT: προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ γυνή ἔχουσα ἀλάβαστρον μύρου βαρυτίμου καί κατέχεεν ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου)

Matthew introduces a woman into the story. If your language has its own way of introducing new participants, you could use it here in your translation. Alternate translation: [there was a woman who had an alabaster jar of very expensive perfumed oil. She approached him]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἀλάβαστρον μύρου βαρυτίμου

˓an˒_alabaster_flask ˱of˲_ointment heavily_valued

Matthew is using the possessive form to describe an alabaster jar that is filled with very expensive perfumed oil. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [an alabaster jar full of very expensive perfumed oil]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

ἀλάβαστρον

˓an˒_alabaster_flask

The word alabaster is the name of a soft, white stone. People stored precious and valuable items in jars made from alabaster. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of stone, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [a white stone jar]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

μύρου βαρυτίμου

˱of˲_ointment heavily_valued

This oil had fragrant additives. To make themselves have a nice smell, people would rub the oil on themselves or sprinkle their clothing with it. Matthew indicates that this was particularly expensive oil. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of oil, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [of very expensive oil with perfume in it]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου

the head ˱of˲_him reclining

The phrase he reclining to eat refers to something else that was happening while the woman poured the oil on Jesus’ head. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a simultaneous action. Alternate translation: [his head as he was reclining to eat]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ἀνακειμένου

reclining

In Jesus’ culture, people would usually recline, or lie on one side, when they were eating. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the position in which people eat in your culture, or you could just refer to eating. See how you translated the similar phrase in [9:10](../09/10.md). Alternate translation: [he sitting down to eat] or [he eating]