OET interlinear MARK 9:48

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ, καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται

where the worm ˱of˲_them not /is/_dying and the fire not /is_being/_extinguished

Here Jesus describes hell as if it were a place where there were worms and fire. He means that it is a very unpleasant place where people experience punishment and pain. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: “where it is as if their worm does not end, and it is as if the fire is not quenched” or “which is like a place where their worm does not end and the fire is not quenched”

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν

the worm ˱of˲_them

The pronoun their refers to people who are in Gehenna. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer to these people more directly. Alternate translation: “the worm of the people there”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν

the worm ˱of˲_them

Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe a worm that devours them. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the worm that devours them”

Note 4 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

ὁ σκώληξ & οὐ τελευτᾷ

the worm & not /is/_dying

If it would not be natural in your language to speak as if a group of people were being devoured by only one worm, you could use the plural form of that word in your translation. Alternate translation: “worms do not end”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism

οὐ τελευτᾷ

not /is/_dying

Jesus is referring to death in a polite way by using the word end. He means that the worm continues to devour the people there because it never dies. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a polite way of referring to this in your language, or you could state this plainly. Alternate translation: “does not pass away” or “does not die” or “never ceases to devour”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται

the fire not /is_being/_extinguished

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, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: “people do not quench the fire”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸ πῦρ

the fire

Here Jesus implies that the fire burns the people who are in Gehenna. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “the fire that burns them”