OET interlinear MAT 7:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

and

Here, the word Now introduces the next topic. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next topic, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: [Next,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί & βλέπεις τὸ κάρφος τὸ ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου, τὴν δὲ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκὸν οὐ κατανοεῖς?

why & ˱you˲_/are/_looking the speck ¬which in the eye ˱of˲_the brother ˱of˲_you the_‹speck› but in ¬the your eye beam not ˱you˲_/are/_observing

Jesus is using the question form to rebuke his disciples for looking at a speck of wood in a fellow disciple’s eye while failing to notice the log in their own eye. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [you should not look at the speck of wood in the eye of your brother when you do not notice the log in your eye.] or [do not look at the speck of wood in the eye of your brother while at the same time not noticing the log in your eye!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

βλέπεις & σου & τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ & οὐ κατανοεῖς

˱you˲_/are/_looking & ˱of˲_you & ¬the your eye & not ˱you˲_/are/_observing

Even though Jesus is speaking to many disciples, he is addressing an individual situation, so you and your are singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who is speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms of you and your in your translation.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

βλέπεις τὸ κάρφος τὸ ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου, τὴν δὲ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκὸν οὐ κατανοεῖς

˱you˲_/are/_looking the speck ¬which in the eye ˱of˲_the brother ˱of˲_you the_‹speck› but in ¬the your eye beam not ˱you˲_/are/_observing

Here Jesus refers to small faults and mistakes as if they were a speck of wood in a person’s eye. He speaks of large faults and mistakes as if they were a log in a person’s eye. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [do you focus on your brother’s small fault, which is like a speck of wood in his eye, but you do not notice your own large fault, which is like a log in your eye] or [do you look at the small mistakes your brother makes, but you do not notice your own large mistakes]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

τὸ κάρφος

the speck

A speck of wood is a tiny piece of wood or plant matter. If your readers would not be familiar with a speck of wood, you could use the name of something small that commonly falls into a person’s eyes, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [the grain of sand] or [the tiny object]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου

˱of˲_the brother ˱of˲_you

Jesus is using the term brother to mean a person who shares the same faith. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of your fellow disciple]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου

˱of˲_the brother ˱of˲_you

Although the term brother is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If you retain the metaphor in your translation, and if it would be helpful in your language, you could say “brother or sister” to indicate this. Alternate translation: [of your brother or sister]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

τὴν & δοκὸν

the_‹speck› & beam

A log could not literally go into a person’s eye. Jesus is using an extreme example to emphasize his point and make it memorable. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the largest object that could fall into a person’s eye. Alternate translation: [the large piece of wood]

Note 9 topic: translate-unknown

τὴν & δοκὸν

the_‹speck› & beam

A log is a long, large piece of wood. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of object, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [the beam] or [the plank] or [the large object]