OET interlinear MAT 28:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

δὲ

and

Matthew uses the word Now to introduce background information that will help readers understand what happens next. It does not introduce another event in the story. Use a natural form in your language for introducing background information. Alternate translation: “As for that angel,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ἦν & ὡς ἀστραπὴ

was & as lightning

The point of this comparison is that the appearance of the angel was very bright, as lightning is very bright. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “was as bright as it is when lightning strikes”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ λευκὸν ὡς χιών

the clothing ˱of˲_him white as snow

Matthew is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “his clothing was white like snow”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

λευκὸν ὡς χιών

white as snow

The point of this comparison is that the clothing of the angel was pure and bright white in color, just like snow is pure and bright white in color. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “bright white, as snow is bright white”

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

λευκὸν ὡς χιών

white as snow

The word snow refers to a type of frozen precipitation that is extremely white in color. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of precipitation, you could use the name of something that is known to be very white in your area, or you could refer more generally to a very bright white color. Alternate translation: “white as cotton” or “extremely white”