OET interlinear 1TH 4:17

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

ἔπειτα

then

Here, the word Then indicates that what Paul is about to describe will only happen after the events he described in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that introduces the next event in a sequence. Alternate translation: “Next,” or “Afterward,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες, οἱ περιλειπόμενοι ἅμα σὺν αὐτοῖς, ἁρπαγησόμεθα

we the_‹ones› living ¬which /being/_remaining together with them /will_be_being/_snatched

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, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: “God will catch us, the ones living, the ones surviving, up together with them”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς & πάντοτε & ἐσόμεθα

we & always & ˱we˲_will_be

By we in both clauses, Paul includes himself, his fellow workers, and the Thessalonians, so use the inclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες, οἱ περιλειπόμενοι

we the_‹ones› living ¬which /being/_remaining

Here, the phrases the ones living and the ones surviving distinguish we from other people. Be sure that this distinction is clear in your translation. See how you translated the similar phrases in 4:15. Alternate translation: “we, by which I mean those of us who live, who survive”

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτοῖς

them

The pronoun them refers to “the dead in Christ” who resurrect. Paul mentioned them in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the referent more explicit. Alternate translation: “the resurrected believers” or “the dead who live again”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν νεφέλαις

in /the/_clouds

Here, the phrase in the clouds could refer to: (1) the place where believers meet the Lord. In other words, the clouds are in the air, which is where believers meet the Lord. Alternate translation: “up among the clouds” (2) the means by which believers go to meet the Lord. In this case, the clouds are what believers stand on as they go to meet the Lord. Some people in Paul’s culture told stories about people standing on clouds as they traveled to heaven. Alternate translation: “on the clouds” or “by means of clouds”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ Κυρίου εἰς ἀέρα

for /the/_meeting ˱of˲_the Lord in /the/_air

Here, the phrase to meet refers to going to greet someone. Paul could be implying that, after believers greet him, Jesus: (1) continues to earth with all believers. Alternate translation: “to meet the Lord in the air and return to earth with him” (2) goes back up to heaven with all believers, either temporarily or eternally. Alternate translation: “to meet the Lord in the air and go back to heaven with him”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς ἀέρα

for in /the/_air

Here, the phrase in the air refers to the area above the earth but below heaven, an area often called the sky. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to this area. Alternate translation: “above the earth” or “up in the atmosphere”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὕτως

thus

Here, the phrase in this way refers to the process that Paul has outlined in this verse and the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the result of a process. Alternate translation: “as a result” or “after all those events”