1:14a
white like wool, as white as snow: Both of these phrases indicate that Jesus’ hair was very white. Both wool and snow are examples of very white things. The two phrases together emphasize the whiteness. For example:
were as white as wool, even as white as snow (NET Bible)
In some languages people are not familiar with either wool or snow. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Translate the meaning without the similes. For example:
very, very white
• Use a substitute for the words wool and snow. Use something considered very white in your culture. For example:
white as ⌊bright⌋ clouds
-or-
The whiteness of his hair was like a broken wave
You may then want to explain the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “white like wool, as white as snow.” Wool and snow are examples of very white things.
• Use the major language words, if people are familiar with them. You may want to explain their use in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Wool and snow are examples of very white things.
wool: The word wool refers to the hair of sheep and some kinds of goats. Other ways to translate this word are:
sheep hair
-or-
very white animal hair
snow: The word snow refers to frozen ice crystals that fall from the clouds. Snow falls instead of rain when it is very cold. That is, it may precipitate in the form of snow when the air temperature is below freezing. Snow is white and fluffy; it is not clear like rain.
1:14b
His eyes were like a blazing fire: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blazing fire is literally “a flame of fire” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This simile probably refers to the brightness of his eyes. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
his eyes were like a fiery flame (NET Bible)
-or-
his eyes looked like flames of fire (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
his eyes were ⌊bright⌋ as flames
Translate in a way that does not imply that Jesus was angry or that he showed any other specific emotion.
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