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Mat 3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17

OET interlinear MAT 3:10

◄ ← MAT 3:10 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    1. Greek word
    2. Greek lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. ἥδε
    2. hode
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 35920
    6. E····NFS
    7. this
    8. this
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 1142
    1. ἤδη
    2. ēdē
    3. already
    4. already
    5. 22350
    6. D·······
    7. already
    8. already
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1143
    1. Δέ
    2. de
    3. And
    4. then
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. S
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1144
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 25320
    6. D·······
    7. also
    8. also
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 1145
    1. ἡ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1146
    1. ἀξίνη
    2. axinē
    3. axe
    4. axe
    5. 5130
    6. N····NFS
    7. axe
    8. axe
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1147
    1. πρός
    2. pros
    3. to
    4. -
    5. 43140
    6. P·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1148
    1. τήν
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····AFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1149
    1. ῥίζαν
    2. rhiza
    3. root
    4. -
    5. 44910
    6. N····AFS
    7. root
    8. root
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1150
    1. τῶν
    2. ho
    3. of the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GNP
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1151
    1. δένδρων
    2. dendron
    3. trees
    4. trees
    5. 11860
    6. N····GNP
    7. trees
    8. trees
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1152
    1. κεῖται
    2. keimai
    3. is lying
    4. -
    5. 27490
    6. VIPM3··S
    7. ˓is˒ lying
    8. ˓is˒ lying
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1153
    1. παν
    2. pas
    3. every
    4. -
    5. 39560
    6. E····NNS
    7. every
    8. every
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1154
    1. οὖν
    2. oun
    3. therefore
    4. -
    5. 37670
    6. C·······
    7. therefore
    8. therefore
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1155
    1. δένδρον
    2. dendron
    3. tree
    4. tree
    5. 11860
    6. N····NNS
    7. tree
    8. tree
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry; F1158; F1166
    11. 1156
    1. μή
    2. mē
    3. not
    4. -
    5. 33610
    6. D·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1157
    1. ποιοῦν
    2. poieō
    3. producing
    4. producing
    5. 41600
    6. VPPA·NNS
    7. producing
    8. producing
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry; R1156
    11. 1158
    1. καρπόν
    2. karpos
    3. fruit
    4. fruit
    5. 25900
    6. N····AMS
    7. fruit
    8. fruit
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1159
    1. καλόν
    2. kalos
    3. good
    4. good
    5. 25700
    6. A····AMS
    7. good
    8. good
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1160
    1. ἐκκόπτεται
    2. ekkoptō
    3. is being cut off
    4. -
    5. 15810
    6. VIPP3··S
    7. ˓is_being˒ cut_off
    8. ˓is_being˒ cut_off
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1161
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. and
    4. and
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1162
    1. πρός
    2. pros
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 43140
    6. P·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 1163
    1. εἰς
    2. eis
    3. into
    4. -
    5. 15190
    6. P·······
    7. into
    8. into
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1164
    1. πῦρ
    2. pur
    3. +the fire
    4. fire
    5. 44420
    6. N····ANS
    7. ˓the˒ fire
    8. ˓the˒ fire
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1165
    1. βάλλεται
    2. ballō
    3. is being thrown
    4. thrown
    5. 9060
    6. VIPP3··S
    7. ˓is_being˒ throw
    8. ˓is_being˒ cast
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry; R1156
    11. 1166

OET (OET-LV) And already the axe is_lying to the root of_the trees, therefore every tree not producing good fruit is_being_cut_off and is_being_thrown into the_fire.

OET (OET-RV) The axe has already been placed at the base of the trees ready to cut down any tree that’s not producing good fruit, and then it’ll be thrown into the fire.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–12: John the Baptist taught people to repent and obey God

The story starting at 3:1 occurred about twenty-eight years after 2:23. Matthew did not tell what happened during those twenty-eight years. But he restarted the story at this time in Jesus’ life because Jesus was ready to begin the work that God gave him to do. He began at the time God chose for him.

John the Baptist was the last prophet before Jesus. The story of how John was born is in Luke chapter 1. He was the prophet whom God said would come (3:3). John wore the kind of clothes prophets often wore (3:4). He baptized people who repented. John preached that Jesus would be greater than he was (3:11).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The work of John the Baptist/Baptizer

The work of John who baptized people

John the Baptizer preached repentance and submission to God’s rule

John the Baptizer prepared people to receive the Lord

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 1:1, Luke 3:1–18 and John 1:19–28.

Paragraph 3:7–10

In this paragraph, John the Baptist spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees.

3:10

Verse 3:10 is a metaphor. Its literal meaning is that someone has aimed his axe at trees that do not produce good fruit. He is ready to cut down these trees and burn them.

John the Baptist was comparing the Pharisees and Sadducees to these trees. He compared their behavior to the fruit of the trees. He compared God to the man who is ready to chop down the trees that had not produced good fruit. John was warning them that just as trees that do not produce good fruit will be chopped down and burned, so they will be severely punished by God if they do not show good works.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

3:10a

The axe lies ready at the root of the trees,

The axe lies ready at the root of the trees: This clause indicates that an axe is ready to cut down trees. It is implied that someone is holding the axe. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

someone has his axe pointed/aimed at the trunk of trees ready to cut them down

a man is holding an axe at the base/trunk of trees. He is ready to cut them down

the trees will soon be cut by a man with an axe

These words are a metaphor. For advice on translating this metaphor, see the examples above.

The axe lies ready: The Greek word that the BSB translates as ready emphasizes that the danger is immediate. The axe is right there, ready to strike. The tree is about to fall.

Here is another way to translate this word:

The ax is already (NIV)

Even now the axe is laid (ESV)

at the root of the trees: The phrase at the root of the trees refers to the part of the tree that is just above the ground, where an axe could cut it. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the base/trunk of the trees

at the bottom/foot of the trees

In some languages, it is not necessary to specify where the tree is cut down. For example:

to cut down the trees (NCV)

the trees: John did not name a specific type of trees, but it is clear from the context that he was referring to fruit trees such as fig trees.

3:10b

and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down

The metaphor continues here in 3:10b. People who do not do good works are compared to trees that do not produce good fruit. God will punish these people. They are compared to trees that are cut down.

For translation advice, see the examples above in 3:10.

and every tree: The Greek conjunction that the BSB here translates as and introduces what happens as a result of the situation in 3:10a.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

so then

as a result

the result will be that

that does not produce good fruit: The Greek words that the BSB translates as produce…fruit also occurred in 3:8. You should translate these words here as you did there.

will be cut down: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as will be cut down is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

3:10c

and thrown into the fire.

The metaphor continues by describing how the tree is burned and so destroyed. This refers to being punished by God.

thrown into the fire: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as thrown is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἤδη Δέ ἡ ἀξίνη πρός τήν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται παν οὖν δένδρον μή ποιοῦν καρπόν καλόν ἐκκόπτεται καί εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται)

Here, the word But introduces a development of the ideas in the previous verse. It also introduces a slight contrast with God being able to make children of Abraham from stones. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of development, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [Further,] or [As a matter of fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἤδη & ἡ ἀξίνη πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται; πᾶν οὖν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται

already & the axe (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἤδη Δέ ἡ ἀξίνη πρός τήν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται παν οὖν δένδρον μή ποιοῦν καρπόν καλόν ἐκκόπτεται καί εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται)

In this verse, John speaks as if people were trees and as if God had an ax. Every person who does not repent and do what is right is like a tree that does not produce good fruit. Just as someone chops down these trees and burns them, so God will punish these people. If possible preserve the metaphor here. You could use simile form, or if necessary, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [already it is as if the ax is set against the root of the trees. Every person who does not repent and obey is like a tree that does not produce good fruit. It is chopped down and thrown into a fire] or [already God is ready to judge people. So, anyone who does not repent and obey will be declared guilty and punished]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡ ἀξίνη & κεῖται

the axe & ˓is˒_lying

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 God. Alternate translation: [God has set the ax]

Note 4 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἤδη Δέ ἡ ἀξίνη πρός τήν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται παν οὖν δένδρον μή ποιοῦν καρπόν καλόν ἐκκόπτεται καί εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται)

In this verse, the word root is singular in form, but it refers to all the roots of the trees as a group. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this plainly. Alternate translation: [the roots of the trees]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν ῥίζαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἤδη Δέ ἡ ἀξίνη πρός τήν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται παν οὖν δένδρον μή ποιοῦν καρπόν καλόν ἐκκόπτεται καί εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται)

Here, the word root refers to the lowest part of the tree that shows above the ground. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [the base] or [lowest part]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πᾶν & δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἤδη Δέ ἡ ἀξίνη πρός τήν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται παν οὖν δένδρον μή ποιοῦν καρπόν καλόν ἐκκόπτεται καί εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται)

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 does the action, it is clear from the context that it is God. Alternate translation: [God chops down every tree not producing good fruit and throws it into a fire]

Note 7 topic: translate-tense

ἐκκόπτεται καὶ & βάλλεται

˓is_being˒_cut_off (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἤδη Δέ ἡ ἀξίνη πρός τήν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται παν οὖν δένδρον μή ποιοῦν καρπόν καλόν ἐκκόπτεται καί εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται)

Here John could be using the present tense to describe: (1) something that is generally true. Alternate translation: [is being chopped down and is being thrown] (2) something that will happen in the future but is as certain as if it was happening in the present. Alternate translation: [will be chopped down and will be thrown]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. And
    2. then
    3. 11610
    4. S
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. S
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1144
    1. already
    2. already
    3. 22350
    5. ēdē
    6. D-·······
    7. already
    8. already
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1143
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1146
    1. axe
    2. axe
    3. 5130
    5. axinē
    6. N-····NFS
    7. axe
    8. axe
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1147
    1. is lying
    2. -
    3. 27490
    5. keimai
    6. V-IPM3··S
    7. ˓is˒ lying
    8. ˓is˒ lying
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1153
    1. to
    2. -
    3. 43140
    5. pros
    6. P-·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1148
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····AFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1149
    1. root
    2. -
    3. 44910
    5. rhiza
    6. N-····AFS
    7. root
    8. root
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1150
    1. of the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GNP
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1151
    1. trees
    2. trees
    3. 11860
    5. dendron
    6. N-····GNP
    7. trees
    8. trees
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1152
    1. therefore
    2. -
    3. 37670
    5. oun
    6. C-·······
    7. therefore
    8. therefore
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1155
    1. every
    2. -
    3. 39560
    5. pas
    6. E-····NNS
    7. every
    8. every
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1154
    1. tree
    2. tree
    3. 11860
    5. dendron
    6. N-····NNS
    7. tree
    8. tree
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry; F1158; F1166
    11. 1156
    1. not
    2. -
    3. 33610
    5. mē
    6. D-·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1157
    1. producing
    2. producing
    3. 41600
    5. poieō
    6. V-PPA·NNS
    7. producing
    8. producing
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry; R1156
    11. 1158
    1. good
    2. good
    3. 25700
    5. kalos
    6. A-····AMS
    7. good
    8. good
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1160
    1. fruit
    2. fruit
    3. 25900
    5. karpos
    6. N-····AMS
    7. fruit
    8. fruit
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1159
    1. is being cut off
    2. -
    3. 15810
    5. ekkoptō
    6. V-IPP3··S
    7. ˓is_being˒ cut_off
    8. ˓is_being˒ cut_off
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1161
    1. and
    2. and
    3. 25320
    5. kai
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1162
    1. is being thrown
    2. thrown
    3. 9060
    5. ballō
    6. V-IPP3··S
    7. ˓is_being˒ throw
    8. ˓is_being˒ cast
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry; R1156
    11. 1166
    1. into
    2. -
    3. 15190
    5. eis
    6. P-·······
    7. into
    8. into
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1164
    1. +the fire
    2. fire
    3. 44420
    5. pur
    6. N-····ANS
    7. ˓the˒ fire
    8. ˓the˒ fire
    9. -
    10. Y26; TJohn_the_Baptist_Begins_Ministry
    11. 1165

OET (OET-LV) And already the axe is_lying to the root of_the trees, therefore every tree not producing good fruit is_being_cut_off and is_being_thrown into the_fire.

OET (OET-RV) The axe has already been placed at the base of the trees ready to cut down any tree that’s not producing good fruit, and then it’ll be thrown into the fire.

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

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