Koettelemuksina

Koettelemuksina is a Finnish noun phrase that roughly means “as temptations” or “as trials.” It combines the base koettelemus, meaning temptation or trial, with suffixes that mark plurality and a role or state in description. The form is used when multiple situations are presented or interpreted as temptations that test a person, a group, or a situation.

The phrase is common in religious, philosophical, and literary Finnish, where it helps frame discussions about moral choice, spiritual struggle, or challenges to one’s judgment. It signals that the subjects are not ordinary events but are considered to challenge values, principles, or character.

In translation, koettelemuksina is typically rendered as “as temptations” or “as trials,” depending on context. It often appears in analyses of character, ethics, or narrative conflict, where authors discuss how various events function as temptations that test individuals’ resolve.

Example usage: Nämä koettelemuksina pidetyt tilanteet paljastavat hänen todellisen luonteensa. This can be translated as “These situations, regarded as temptations, reveal his true character.” Such usage is more common in formal or literary Finnish, where nuanced interpretations of what counts as a temptation or trial are part of the discourse.

Notes: The form is plural and used when the speaker wants to frame several moments or circumstances as temptations. It tends to appear in more rhetorical or analytical texts rather than everyday speech.