OET interlinear PHP 3:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

(Occurrence -1) βλέπετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν)

All three times that the phrase Beware occurs in this verse, it is a command or instruction given to all of the Philippian believers. Use the most natural form in your language to give direction to a group of people. Alternate translation: “I exhort each of you to beware of” or “Each of you beware of”

(Occurrence -1) βλέπετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν)

Alternate translation: “Watch out for” or “Look out for” or “Be on guard against”

(Occurrence -1) τοὺς κύνας & τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας & τὴν κατατομήν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν)

The phrases the dogs, the evil workers, and the mutilation are three different ways of describing the same group of Jewish teachers who were corrupting the gospel. Paul uses strong expressions to convey his feelings about these Jewish teachers.

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

τοὺς κύνας

˱for˲_the dogs

Paul speaks of the Jewish teachers who were corrupting the gospel as though they were dogs in order to show strong contempt for them. A dog is an animal that is common in many parts of the world. Dogs are despised in some cultures but not despised in other cultures, so using the term dogs in some cultures may not have the same derogatory or negative meaning that Paul intended. If you have a different animal in your culture that is despised or whose name is used as an insult, you could use this animal instead, if it would fit well in this context.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κακοὺς ἐργάτας

evil workers

Here, the phrase evil workers refers to Jewish teachers who were teaching things that were contrary to the gospel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this phrase using plain language. Alternate translation: “false teachers”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

τὴν κατατομήν

˱for˲_the mutilation

The word mutilation is a sarcastic way of referring to circumcision, and the phrase the mutilation is a sarcastic way of referring to the people who taught that circumcision was necessary in order to be in right standing with God. By using the term mutilation, Paul is showing the Philippian believers that those who trust in circumcision, and not solely in Christ, mistakenly think that they can earn God’s favor by cutting their bodies. Consider the term that would best communicate this idea in your language, or you could state this using plain language. Alternate translation: “those who cut themselves”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὴν κατατομήν

˱for˲_the mutilation

Here, the mutilation refers to the Jewish teachers, all circumcised, who were corrupting the gospel by teaching that it was necessary to be circumcised.