MAT 11:23 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And you, Capernaum, you will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down as far as Hades.[fn] For if the miracles that happened in you had happened in Sodom, it would have remained until today.

Instead of a question and a statement, some manuscripts have just a statement: And you, Capernaum, the one being exalted to heaven, will be brought down as far as Hades.

UST I also have something to say to you people who live in the town of Capernaum. You may think that God is going to give you great rewards. No, God is not going to reward you at all! I say this because I did powerful things while I was in your town. If I had done those same powerful things in the city of Sodom, the wicked people who lived there would have stopped doing what was wrong, and God would not have destroyed them.

BSB And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? [No], you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles [that] were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

MSB And you, Capernaum, which is lifted up to heaven, will be brought down to Hades![fn] For if the miracles [that] were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

11:23 CT And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades

BLB And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, but will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles having taken place in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

AICNT And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will {descend}[fn] to Hades; for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, {it}[fn] would have remained until this day.

11:23, descend: B(03) D(05) W(032) NA28 SBLGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “be brought down.” ℵ(01) C(04) THGNT BYZ TR

11:23, it: Later manuscripts read “they.” BYZ TR

OEB And you, Capernaum! Will you exalt yourself to heaven? You will be flung down to Hades! For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day.

WEBBE You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. [fn] For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.

11:23 or, Hell

WMBB You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Sheol. [fn] For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.

11:23 or, Hell

NET And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day.

LSV And you, Capernaum, which were exalted to Heaven, will be brought down to Hades, because if the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it had remained to this day;

FBV And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be exalted to heaven? No, you'll go down to Hades! If the miracles had been performed in Sodom which happened among you, Sodom would still be here today.

TCNT And yoʋ, Capernaum, [fn]who have been exalted to heaven, will [fn]be brought down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in yoʋ had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

11:23 who have been exalted to heaven, ¦ will yoʋ be exalted to heaven? No, yoʋ CT

11:23 be brought 97.8% ¦ go NA SBL WH 0.4%

T4T also have something to say to you people who live in Capernaum city [MTY]. ◄Do not think that you will be honored {that God will honor you} in heaven!/Do you think that you will be honored {that God will honor you} in heaven?► [RHQ] That will not happen! On the contrary, after you die, you will be sent {God will send you} down into the place where sinful people will be punished {he will punish sinful people} forever. God destroyed the ancient city of Sodom because the people who lived in that city were extremely wicked. If I had performed in Sodom the miracles that I performed in your city, the people there would have turned away from their wicked behavior and their city [MET] would still exist now [MTY]. But you, although I did miracles in your city, you did not turn from your wicked behavior.

LEB And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today.

BBE And you, Capernaum, were you not to be lifted up to heaven? you will go down into hell: for if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been here to this day.

Moff And you, O Capharnahum! Exalted to heaven? No, you will sink to Hades!-- for if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Sodom, Sodom would have lasted to this day.

Wymth And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted even to Heaven? Even to Hades shalt thou descend. For had the mighty works been done in Sodom which have been done in thee, it would have remained until now.

ASV And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.

DRA And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day.

YLT 'And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades shalt be brought down, because if in Sodom had been done the mighty works that were done in thee, it had remained unto this day;

Drby And thou, Capernaum, who hast been raised up to heaven, shalt be brought down even to hades. For if the works of power which have taken place in thee, had taken place in Sodom, it had remained until this day.

RV And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.
(And thou/you, Capernaum, shalt/shall thou/you be exalted unto heaven? thou/you shalt/shall go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee/you, it would have remained until this day. )

SLT And thou, Capernaum, lifted up even to heaven, thou shalt he brought down to hades: for if in the people of Sodom had been the powers being in thee, they had remained till this day.

Wbstr And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

KJB-1769 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
( And thou/you, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt/shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee/you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. )

KJB-1611 And thou Capernaum, which art exalted vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: For if the mighty works which haue beene done in thee, had bin done in Sodome, it would haue remained vntil this day.
(And thou/you Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt/shall be brought down to hell: For if the mighty works which have been done in thee/you, had been done in Sodome, it would have remained until this day.)

Bshps And thou Capernaum, which art lift vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: For if the mightie workes which haue ben done in thee had ben done among them of Sodome, they had remayned vntyll this day.
(And thou/you Capernaum, which art lift up unto heaven, shalt/shall be brought down to hell: For if the mighty works which have been done in thee/you had been done among them of Sodome, they had remained until this day.)

Gnva And thou, Capernaum, which art lifted vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: for if the great workes, which haue bin done in thee, had bene done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day.
(And thou/you, Capernaum, which art lifted up unto heaven, shalt/shall be brought down to hell: for if the great works, which have been done in thee/you, had been done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day. )

Cvdl And thou Capernaum which art lift vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe vnto hel. For yf the miracles which haue bene done in the, had bene shewed in Sodom, they had remained vnto this daye.
(And thou/you Capernaum which art lift up unto heaven, shalt/shall be brought down unto hel. For if the miracles which have been done in them, had been showed in Sodom, they had remained unto this day.)

TNT And thou Capernaum which art lift vp vnto heven shalt be brought doune to hell. For if the miracles which have bene done in the had bene shewed in zodom: they had remayned to this daye.
(And thou/you Capernaum which art lift up unto heaven shalt/shall be brought down to hell. For if the miracles which have been done in the had been showed in zodom: they had remained to this day. )

Wycl And thou, Cafarnaum, whethir thou schalt be arerid vp in to heuene? Thou shalt go doun in to helle. For if the vertues that ben don in thee, hadden be don in Sodom, perauenture thei schulden haue dwellid `in to this dai.
(And thou/you, Cafarnaum, whether thou/you shalt/shall be arerid up in to heaven? Thou/You shalt/shall go down in to hell. For if the virtues that been done in thee/you, had be done in Sodom, peradventure/perhaps they should have dwelled/dwelt in to this day.)

Luth Und du, Kapernaum, die du bist erhoben bis an den Himmel, du wirst bis in die Hölle hinuntergestoßen werden. Denn so zu Sodom die Taten geschehen wären, die bei dir geschehen sind, sie stünde noch heutigestages.
(And you(sg), Kapernaum, the you(sg) are raised until at/to the heaven, you(sg) will until in the hell down/downwardgestoßen become. Because so to/for Sodom the actions happen would_be, the at/in you/to_you(sg) happen are, they/she/them would_stand still today.)

ClVg Et tu Capharnaum, numquid usque in cælum exaltaberis? usque in infernum descendes, quia si in Sodomis factæ fuissent virtutes quæ factæ sunt in te, forte mansissent usque in hanc diem.[fn]
(And you(sg) Capharnaum, is_it until in/into/on the_sky exaltaberis? until in/into/on hell descendes, because when/but_if in/into/on Sodomis done they_would_have_been by_virtues which done are in/into/on you(sg), perhaps I_stayedssent until in/into/on this day. )

11.23 Et tu, Capharnaum. Non solum Corozaim et Bethsaidæ væ erit, sed et tibi Capharnaum. Nunquid usque in cœlum exaltaberis? Nonne tu es quæ fama hospitii mei, et signorum in te factorum famosa efficeris, et contra prædicationem meam superbissime restitisti? Capharnaum interpretatur villa pulcherrima, in qua condemnatur perfida Jerusalem, cui dicitur: Justificata est Sodoma soror tua ex te, id est, ex tui comparatione cum illa, quæ non est exemplo Loth correcta, tu Filii Dei verbis et miraculis semper exstitisti ingrata.

11.23 And you(sg), Capharnaum. Not/No only Corozaim and Bethsaidæ woe will_be, but and to_you Capharnaum. Nunquid until in/into/on sky exaltaberis? Isn't_it you(sg) you_are which fame hospitii my/mine, and sign/seal(v)rum in/into/on you(sg) donerum famosa efficeris, and on_the_contrary preaching of_mine proudsime restitisti? Capharnaum interprets villa beautifulrima, in/into/on which condemnsur perfida Yerusalem, to_whom it_is_said: Justified it_is Sodoma sister your from you(sg), that it_is, from yours(sg) comparison when/with that, which not/no it_is example Loth correcta, you(sg) Children of_God with_words and with_miracles always exstitisti ingrata.

UGNT καὶ σύ, Καφαρναούμ, μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ? ἕως ᾍδου καταβήσῃ; ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον.
(kai su, Kafarnaoum, maʸ heōs ouranou hupsōthaʸsaʸ? heōs Haidou katabaʸsaʸ; hoti ei en Sodomois egenaʸthaʸsan hai dunameis hai genomenai en soi, emeinen an meⱪri taʸs saʸmeron.)

SBL-GNT καὶ σύ, Καφαρναούμ, ⸂μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ⸃; ἕως ᾅδου ⸀καταβήσῃ· ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ⸀ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, ⸀ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον.
(kai su, Kafarnaoum, ⸂maʸ heōs ouranou hupsōthaʸsaʸ⸃; heōs hadou ⸀katabaʸsaʸ; hoti ei en Sodomois ⸀egenaʸthaʸsan hai dunameis hai genomenai en soi, ⸀emeinen an meⱪri taʸs saʸmeron.)

RP-GNT Καὶ σύ, Καπερναούμ, ἡ ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθεῖσα, ἕως ᾍδου καταβιβασθήσῃ· ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγένοντο αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, ἔμειναν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον.
(Kai su, Kapernaoum, haʸ heōs tou ouranou hupsōtheisa, heōs Haidou katabibasthaʸsaʸ; hoti ei en Sodomois egenonto hai dunameis hai genomenai en soi, emeinan an meⱪri taʸs saʸmeron.)

TC-GNT Καὶ σύ, [fn]Καπερναούμ, [fn]ἡ ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθεῖσα, ἕως ᾍδου [fn]καταβιβασθήσῃ· ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις [fn]ἐγένοντο αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, [fn]ἔμειναν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον.
(Kai su, Kapernaoum, haʸ heōs tou ouranou hupsōtheisa, heōs Haidou katabibasthaʸsaʸ; hoti ei en Sodomois egenonto hai dunameis hai genomenai en soi, emeinan an meⱪri taʸs saʸmeron. )

11:23 καπερναουμ ¦ καφαρναουμ CT

11:23 η εως του ουρανου υψωθεισα ¦ η εως του ουρανου υψωθης 𝔐^pt PCK ¦ μη εως ουρανου υψωθηση CT

11:23 καταβιβασθηση 97.8% ¦ καταβηση NA SBL WH 0.4%

11:23 εγενοντο ¦ εγενηθησαν ANT CT

11:23 εμειναν ¦ εμεινεν CT

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:20–24: Jesus spoke against people who did not repent

In this section, Jesus rebuked the Jews of certain towns. They had heard him preach and had seen him do miracles, but still they refused to repent and believe in him. Jesus stated that many Gentiles were more likely to trust him than the Jews were. As a result, God will judge these Jews more harshly than he will judge the Gentiles. Jesus said these things because he hoped that some of them would be shamed into repenting and believing him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus warns the Jews of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum

Judgment for the Unbelievers (NLT)

11:23–24

Verses 11:23–24 contain a figure of speech called apostrophe.The name of this figure of speech is spelled and pronounced the same as the punctuation mark used to show contractions, but with a different meaning. For more information, see Translation Problems A to Z, Apostrophe. In this figure of speech, Jesus spoke to the town of Capernaum as if it were a person.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

Keep the apostrophe as in the BSB.
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?
Translate it so that Jesus is speaking to the people of the town. For example:
^23aPeople of Capernaum, do you think you will be honored in heaven? (CEV)

11:23a

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven?

And you^(sing), Capernaum, do you^(sing) think that you will be lifted to heaven? You will not!
As for you^(plur) people of the town of Capernaum, do not think that God will lift you^(plur) up to heaven to honor you.

And you, Capernaum: The phrase And you, Capernaum shows that Jesus had finished talking about Chorazin and Bethsaida at the end of 11:22. Here in 11:23 he was beginning to talk about Capernaum. Consider how to show this change in subject in your language. For example:

And as for you, Capernaum! (GNT)

Capernaum: The word Capernaum is the name of another town where Jews lived. Jesus often stayed in the town of Capernaum during his ministry around Lake Galilee. Although he did many miracles in this town, most of the people there did not believe in him. The people of Capernaum were like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida: many people did not believe in Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

the town of Capernaum

people of the town of Capernaum

will you be lifted up to heaven?: Before you translate this clause, there are three issues to consider:

Issue 1: Meaning

The Greek word that the BSB translates as lifted up means “caused to have high status” or “honored.” In order to show this high status, a person was often lifted higher than other people.

This verb is contrasted with “brought down” in 11:23b. So, if possible, you should translate both the aspect of “honor” and the aspect of “lifted up.” To do this, you may need to use two verbs. For example:

lifted to heaven and honored there

English versions focus on only one aspect. For example:

lifted to heaven (GW)

honored in heaven (NLT)

Issue 2: Rhetorical Question

This is a rhetorical question. It expresses in question form what the people of Capernaum probably believed about themselves. They were proud of themselves and believed that they would be exalted/lifted to heaven and honored there. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that they certainly would not be lifted/raised to a position of honor in heaven. His words also imply a rebuke to the people of Capernaum.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke and emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
do you think that you will be lifted/raised to a position of great honor in heaven?
do you think you will be honored in heaven? (CEV) In Greek, the form of this rhetorical question implies that the people of Capernaum would not be lifted to heaven. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No. (NET)
As a statement. For example:
you are certainly not going to be raised to heaven and honored there.
you should not think that you will be lifted to heaven and honored there more than other people.

Issue 3: Passive

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Use a passive verb. For example:
will you be lifted up to heaven (NCV)
Use an active verb. For example:
will God lift you to heaven to honor you?

11:23b

No, you will be brought down to Hades!

You^(sing) will be thrown down to hell.
Instead, he will throw you^(plur) down to the place of fire/punishment.

you will be brought down: There is a textual issue here:

Some Greek manuscripts have a verb that means “you will be brought/thrown down.” This verb implies the use of force. For example:
you will be thrown down (GNT) (BSB, RSV, ESV, GNT, NJB, NET, REB, KJV, NCV, NLT96)
Other Greek manuscripts have a verb that means “you will go down.” For example:
You will descend (NASB) (NIV, NASB, NLT, GW, CEV, JBP)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation corresponds with the passive in 11:23a and is a direct contrast with it. Instead of being lifted up and honored, the people of Capernaum will be brought down to a place of humiliation and punishment.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Use a passive verb. For example:
you will be thrown down (NCV)
Use an active verb. For example:
God will throw you down

to Hades: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Hades means “the world of the dead.” In this context, it refers to hell. It is the place where God will punish people who did not believe in Jesus. It is the opposite of “heaven” in 11:23a.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

hell (GNT)

the place of the dead (NLT)

the place of fire/punishment

11:23c–d

if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day: This is another long sentence that begins with an if clause. It is further complicated because it contrasts two situations. The first situation is a real situation: Jesus did miracles in the Jewish town of Capernaum. It is implied that the people of that town did not repent. The second situation is a hypothetical situation: If Jesus had done those same miracles in the Gentile town of Sodom, the people of that town would have repented and the town would still exist.

In some languages, it will be natural to divide this long sentence into several shorter sentences. For example:

I did miracles in your town, but you did not repent. If, for example, I had done these same miracles in the town of Sodom, that town would still exist today.

I did miracles in your town, but you did not repent. Suppose that I had done these same miracles in the town of Sodom. The people of that town are not Jews, but they would have repented long ago. As a result, their town would still remain.

11:23c

For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom,

I say this because if I had done the miracles in the town of Sodom which I did in your^(sing) town,
I did miracles in your town, but you did not repent. If I had done these same miracles in the town of Sodom,
I did miracles in your town, but you did not turn away from your sins. Suppose that I had done these same miracles in the town of Sodom. The people of that town were not Jews, but

For: Verses 11:23c–d explain the reason why Jesus rebuked the people of the town of Capernaum (in 11:23a–b). The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the BSB translates as For.

Here is another way to introduce this explanation:

I say this because

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it may not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

if the miracles that were performed in you: The Greek word that the BSB translates as miracles can also be translated as “mighty works” (as in the ESV). Here Jesus referred to the miracles that he has done in the Jewish town of Capernaum. It is implied that even though he did miracles there, the Jewish people in Capernaum did not repent.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If the miracles I did in you (NLT)

If the miracles that took place in your town (CEV)

I did miracles in your town, but you Jews did not repent

had been performed in Sodom: This part of the “if” clause is hypothetical. This means that it refers to something that did not happen. Jesus did not do miracles in the town of Sodom. But if he had done miracles there, the people there would have repented.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

had been done in Sodom but they were not done

I did not do miracles in Sodom. But if I had done miracles there

If, for example, I had done these same miracles in the town of Sodom

Sodom: The word Sodom refers to a town that God destroyed long before Jesus’ time because the people were so evil (Genesis 19).

11:23d

it would have remained to this day.

it would still be standing today.
the people of that town would have repented and their town would still exist today.
they would have repented, and God would not have destroyed them and their town.

it would have remained to this day: This clause means that the town of Sodom would have remained in existence. God would not have destroyed it. The people of Sodom, after seeing the miracles, would have repented, and God would not have destroyed them and their town.

This clause is another part of the hypothetical statement. The Gentile people in the town of Sodom did not see Jesus’ miracles. They did not repent, and God did not spare their town. He destroyed it.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

it would still be there today (GW)

that town would still be standing (CEV)

God would not have destroyed it

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / apostrophe

καὶ σύ, Καφαρναούμ, μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ? ἕως ᾍδου καταβήσῃ; ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Καφαρναούμ μή ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾍδου Καταβήσῃ Ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί ἔμεινεν ἄν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον)

Much as in [11:21](../11/21.md), Jesus is addressing something that he knows cannot hear him, the city of Capernaum. He is doing this to show his listeners in a strong way how he feels about that city. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these words as if he were speaking directly to people about these cities. Alternate translation: [And Capernaum will not be exalted to heaven, will it? It will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that happened in it had happened in Sodom, Sodom would have remained until today]

Note 2 topic: translate-textvariants

καὶ σύ, Καφαρναούμ, μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ? ἕως ᾍδου καταβήσῃ

Many ancient manuscripts read And you, Capernaum, you will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down as far as Hades. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts read “And you, Capernaum, the one being exalted to heaven, will be brought down as far as Hades.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

σύ, Καφαρναούμ, μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ?

you Capernaum (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Καφαρναούμ μή ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾍδου Καταβήσῃ Ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί ἔμεινεν ἄν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον)

Jesus uses a rhetorical question to rebuke the people of Capernaum for their pride, because they think that they will be exalted to heaven. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [you, Capernaum, will certainly not be exalted to heaven.] or [you, Capernaum, will by no means be exalted to heaven!]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σύ & μὴ & ὑψωθήσῃ & καταβήσῃ & σοί

you & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Καφαρναούμ μή ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾍδου Καταβήσῃ Ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί ἔμεινεν ἄν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον)

Jesus is addressing an individual city in each of these phrases, so you is singular throughout this verse.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

Καφαρναούμ & ἐν Σοδόμοις

Capernaum & in Sodom

The words Capernaum and Sodom refer to the people who live in those cities. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [people of Capernaum … among the people of Sodom]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ

The phrase be exalted refers to receiving honor. To be exalted all the way up to heaven indicates that this honor is very great. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you will not be honored greatly, will you]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μὴ ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ?

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 does the action, it is clear from the context that it is God. Alternate translation: Alternate translation: [God will not exalt you to heaven, will he?]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἕως ᾍδου καταβήσῃ

to to Hades (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Καφαρναούμ μή ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾍδου Καταβήσῃ Ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί ἔμεινεν ἄν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον)

The phrase be brought down refers to experiencing punishment and dishonor. To be brought down all the way to Hades indicates that this punishment and dishonor are very great. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [You will be punished severely]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἕως ᾍδου καταβήσῃ

Note 10 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

The word For introduces a reason why Jesus says that Capernaum will go down to Hades. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a statement, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [I say this about you because] or [That is because]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον

In Jesus’ culture, people knew that Sodom was a city where many wicked people had lived. God punished these people by destroying them. You can read about what happened in [Genesis 19:1–29](../gen/19/01.md). You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [God destroyed the city of Sodom because it was so wicked. But even those people would have repented, and Sodom would have remained until today, if they had seen the miracles which happened in you. So the people of Capernaum certainly should have repented as well]

Note 12 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί, ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον

if in Sodom ˓were˒_become the miracles which ˓having˒_become in you remained (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Καφαρναούμ μή ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾍδου Καταβήσῃ Ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί ἔμεινεν ἄν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον)

Jesus is describing a situation that might have happened in the past but actually did not. He is doing this to express disappointment and regret about what is happening in the present. Be sure to translate this in such a way that your readers will know that this event actually did not happen, but make sure they will understand why Jesus is imagining Capernaum suffering as did Sodom. Alternate translation: [suppose that the miracles had happened in Sodom which happened in you. That city would have remained until today]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον

remained (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί σύ Καφαρναούμ μή ἕως οὐρανοῦ ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾍδου Καταβήσῃ Ὅτι εἰ ἐν Σοδόμοις ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν σοί ἔμεινεν ἄν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον)

Jesus means that God would not have destroyed the city of Sodom because its people would have repented when they saw the miracles. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [it would have remained until today because its people would have repented] or [they would have stopped sinning, and so the city would not have been destroyed]

Note 14 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

μέχρι τῆς σήμερον

until the_‹day› today

The phrase until today indicates that something is true or exists at the time when the speaker is speaking. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [up to our time] or [even now]

Parallel MAT 11:23

Section 11:20–24: Jesus spoke against people who did not repent

11:23–24

11:23a

11:23b

11:23c–d

11:23c

11:23d