OET interlinear MAT 9:13

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

but

Here, the word But introduces how Jesus will apply the proverb he spoke in the previous verse (9:12). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an application, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: “So,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

πορευθέντες & μάθετε

/having_been/_gone & learn

Here, the phrase having gone indicates that Jesus wants the Pharisees to study the passage he is about to quote more carefully. Jesus does not mean that they have to leave him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “carefully read and learn” or “think carefully and learn”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

μάθετε

learn

Here, the command is in plural form because Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τί ἐστιν

what is_‹this›

Here Jesus means that they should learn what the passage he is about to quote means. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “what this means” or “the meaning of this passage”

Note 5 topic: writing-quotations

τί ἐστιν: ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν

what is_‹this› mercy ˱I˲_/am/_wanting and not sacrifice

Here Jesus introduces a quotation from Hosea 6:6, where God is speaking to the Israelites. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could introduce the quotation as something that God has said that is written in the Scriptures, or you could include this information in a footnote. Alternate translation: “what this passage from the book of Hosea is: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice” or “what God said through Hosea: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν

mercy ˱I˲_/am/_wanting and not sacrifice

Here God says that he does not want any sacrifice. The Israelites would have understood him to mean that God primarily wants mercy, and he only wants sacrifice if there is also mercy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: “I primarily desire mercy, and only then sacrifice” or “I desire mercy much more than sacrifice”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἔλεος & καὶ οὐ θυσίαν

mercy & and not sacrifice

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of mercy and sacrifice, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: “people to be merciful and not to sacrifice to me”

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For introduces a development based on what the quotation means. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a development, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: “So then,” or “In light of that,”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον

not not for ˱I˲_came

Here, the word come refers to Jesus entering this world as a human to do what God called him to do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “For I did not come to this world” or “For I am not acting”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

δικαίους

/the/_righteous_‹ones›

Jesus is using the adjective righteous as a noun to mean righteous people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “righteous people”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς

but sinners

Jesus 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: “but I came to call sinners”