OET interlinear EST 4:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-participants

וּ⁠מָרְדֳּכַ֗י יָדַע֙

and,Mordecai knowing

Here the story re-introduces Mordecai as the main character in focus. Alternate translation: “when Mordecai found out”

כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֔ה

all/each/any/every which/who done

Alternate translation: “about Haman’s plan to kill all the Jews” or “about those letters”

Note 2 topic: translate-symaction

וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ע מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔י⁠ו וַ⁠יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָ⁠אֵ֑פֶר

and,tore Mārəddəkay DOM clothes,his and,put_on sackcloth and,ashes

These actions demonstrate extreme sadness.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ע מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔י⁠ו וַ⁠יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָ⁠אֵ֑פֶר

and,tore Mārəddəkay DOM clothes,his and,put_on sackcloth and,ashes

You can explain why Mordecai did this. Alternate translation: “he was so anguished that he tore his clothes and put on rough sackcloth and threw ashes over himself”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יֵּצֵא֙ בְּ⁠ת֣וֹךְ הָ⁠עִ֔יר

and=he/it_went_out in_the=middle the=city

The next verse shows that Mordecai was heading towards the king’s palace. You could say that explicitly here. Mordecai might have wanted to call attention to the danger that the Jews were in by going to a public location where people were used to seeing him. Or he might have wanted to contact Esther and ask her to help with the trouble. Or he might have wanted both. Alternate translation: “he started walking towards the city center, towards the king’s palace”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

וַ⁠יִּזְעַ֛ק זְעָקָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה וּ⁠מָרָֽה

and,cried_out cry loudly and,bitterly

Great and bitter are two words that refer to the same thing and that work together. They indicate that Mordecai’s cry was so loud because it was so anguished. Alternate translation: “cried out in anguish”