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OET (OET-LV) And why you_are_looking the speck which in the eye of_the brother of_you, but you_are_ not _observing the speck beam in the your eye?
OET (OET-RV) And why are you looking at the speck in another person’s eye when you have a massive lump in your own eye?
For many years, English versions and Christians have commonly referred to Matthew 5–7 as “The Sermon on the Mount.” In some translations, it may be helpful to include a heading for chapters 5–7 that is on a level above the section heading for 5:1–12.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The Sermon on the Mountain
The sermon that Jesus preached on a mountain
Jesus taught people on the side of a mountain/hill
Even though a new chapter begins at 7:1, Jesus continued “the Sermon on the Mount” which he began in chapter 5. In some languages, it may be natural to begin this chapter with something like:
Jesus continued,
Jesus continued to teach and said,
In other languages, no introduction is necessary here. You may want to begin this chapter as you began chapter 6.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?: Before you translate 7:3a–b, there are two main issues to consider:
Issue 1: Rhetorical question
Verse 7:3 is a rhetorical question. It functions as a rebuke, and it continues the theme in 7:1–2. In 7:1–2 Jesus commanded his disciples not to judge/condemn other people harshly. Here he criticized them for judging/condemning another person with a small fault when they themselves have something more serious in their own lives.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:
As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (NIV)
As a question followed by a command. For example:
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye? Instead, you should pay attention to the plank in your own eye!
As a command. For example:
Do not look at the speck in your brother’s eye. Rather pay attention to the plank in your own eye!
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
Issue 2: Metaphor
Verse 7:3 contains a metaphor. In this metaphor, a small sin/fault in your brother’s life is compared to a speck in his eye. A large sin/fault in your life is compared to a log that is in your eye.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
Keep the metaphor. See the examples above. If you keep the metaphor, you may want to describe the meaning in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The “speck” represents a small sin/fault or a small number of sins. The “log” represents a large sin/fault or a large number of sins.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit how it is similar. For example:
Why do you judge/condemn your brother for a small sin/fault which is like a small speck in his eye, when you have a large sin/fault in your life which is like a log in your own eye?
Why do you who have many sins judge/condemn your brother who has few sins? It is like looking at the speck in your brother’s eye when you have a log in your own eye.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye,
Why do you(sing) look at the piece of dust in your brother’s eye,
Do not be concerned with the sawdust in your(sing) friend’s/neighbor’s eye.
Why do you(sing) judge/condemn your fellow-believer for a small sin/fault that is like some dirt in his eye,
you: In Greek, 7:1–2 uses you plural. But here in 7:3, the Greek changes to you singular.
the speck: The Greek word that the BSB translates as speck refers to something that is very small and can get into a person’s eyes. It could be some dust, a very small piece of wood, or something similar.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
the little piece of dust (NCV)
the piece of sawdust (GW)
splinter
your brother’s: The phrase your brother’s probably refers to something belonging to a companion or friend here. It may also include neighbors or people in general. It includes both male and female.
In some languages the word brother’s refers only to something belonging to someone with the same father. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a more general word. For example:
your neighbor (NRSV)
your friend (NLT)
but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
but you(sing) do not notice/see the log/beam in your own eye?
Rather, you(sing) should pay attention to the log/beam that is in your own eye!
when you have a large sin/fault in your life which is like a log in your own eye?
but: There is contrast between “look” of 7:3a and “fail to notice” in 7:3b. In some languages it is natural to use the conjunction but here (as the BSB and some other English versions do). Your way to connect 7:3a and 7:3b will depend on the way you translate the rhetorical question and metaphor. (See the examples in the Display at 7:3a–b.)
fail to notice: The Greek verb that the BSB translates here as notice also means “consider,” “be concerned about,” or “pay attention to.”
Here are some other ways to translate this verb phrase:
pay no attention to (NIV)
do not think about
do not see
ignore
the beam in your own eye: The Greek word that the BSB translates as beam refers to a large, heavy piece of wood. It is usually used as a beam in building a house.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
wooden beam (GW)
big piece of wood (NCV)
plank (NIV)
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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 & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Δέ βλέπεις τό κάρφος τό ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σοῦ τήν δέ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκόν οὒ κατανοεῖς)
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]
OET (OET-LV) And why you_are_looking the speck which in the eye of_the brother of_you, but you_are_ not _observing the speck beam in the your eye?
OET (OET-RV) And why are you looking at the speck in another person’s eye when you have a massive lump in your own eye?
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.