OET interlinear 1TH 4:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ὅτι

because

Here, the word For introduces an elaboration or explanation of what Paul said in the previous verse about how living believers will not “go before” dead believers (see 4:15). This explanation continues in 4:17. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an elaboration or explanation. Alternate translation: “Here is what I mean:” or “More specifically,”

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριος

himself the Lord

For emphasis, Paul is stating the pronoun “him,” which is already implied in the verbal phrase will come down. If your language can state implied pronouns explicitly for emphasis, you may want to use that construction in your translation. Other languages may have other ways of bringing out this emphasis. The ULT does so by using the intensive pronoun himself. Alternate translation: “it is the Lord who” or “as for the Lord, he”

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

ἐν κελεύσματι, ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου, καὶ ἐν σάλπιγγι Θεοῦ

with /a/_loud_command with /the/_voice ˱of˲_/an/_archangel and with /the/_trumpet ˱of˲_God

Here Paul provides a list with three items. This list might refer to: (1) three different actions that all make sounds. Alternate translation: “with a loud command, the voice of an archangel, and a trumpet of God” (2) one action, the loud command. This command is made up of the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. Alternate translation: “with a loud command given by the voice of an archangel and by a trumpet of God” (3) two different actions, the loud command and the voice of an archangel, and the archangel uses a trumpet of God. Alternate translation: “with a loud command and with the voice of an archangel who uses a trumpet of God”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν κελεύσματι

with /a/_loud_command

Here Paul does not specify who gives the loud command. He implies that it is God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “with a loud command from God”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

σάλπιγγι Θεοῦ

/the/_trumpet ˱of˲_God

Paul is using the possessive form to describe a trumpet that is related to God. More specifically, the trumpet could: (1) be one that God commands to be blown. Alternate translation: “a trumpet that God has someone blow” (2) belong to God. Alternate translation: “God’s trumpet”

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

(Occurrence 2) καὶ

and

Here, the word and introduces an event that comes after the previously described events. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase introduces the next event in a sequence. Alternate translation: “and then” or “and after that”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

οἱ νεκροὶ

the dead

Paul is using the adjective dead as a noun in order to refer to believers who are dead. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “the dead people”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Χριστῷ

with with with in Christ

Here Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ, or united to Christ, indicates that Paul is speaking only about the dead who are united to Christ, that is, believers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that indicates that Paul is speaking about believers who have died. Alternate translation: “Christians” or “who believed in Christ”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀναστήσονται

/will_be/_rising_up

Here, the word rise refers to people who had died then coming back to life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “will be restored to life” or “will resurrect”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πρῶτον

first

Here, the word first indicates that, after Jesus comes down from heaven, the dead in Christ will resurrect before anything else happens. Paul indicates in the following verse what happens after they resurrect. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “before anything else happens” or “immediately afterwards”