OET interlinear HEB 7:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For signals that the author will now go on to explain who “Melchizedek” is and why he is important. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: “Now”

Note 2 topic: translate-names

Σαλήμ

˱of˲_Salem

The word Salem is the name of a city that existed somewhere in the middle of what is now Israel. Some scholars think that it is another name for the city of Shechem, while other scholars think it is another name for the city of Jerusalem. Since our author is referring directly to Genesis 14:18, you should preserve this name as much as possible.

Note 3 topic: translate-names

τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ Ὑψίστου

¬the ˱of˲_God the Highest

The phrase Most High God refers to God and describes him as the most powerful and greatest being. The author uses this phrase since it appears in Genesis 14:18. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a title that describes God as powerful and great. Alternate translation: “of God, who is more powerful than anything else” or “of the Most Exalted God”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

ὑποστρέφοντι

returning

Here, the word returning refers to action that happened at the same time as when Melchizedek met Abraham. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this connection more explicit. Alternate translation: “when he was returning”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Ἀβραὰμ ὑποστρέφοντι ἀπὸ τῆς κοπῆς τῶν βασιλέων

˱with˲_Abraham returning from the slaughter ˱of˲_the kings

The phrase the slaughter of the kings refers to a story in Genesis 14:1–16. Four kings conquered a city in which Abraham’s nephew was living, and they captured his nephew. Abraham took the fighting men that he had, and he conquered and “slaughtered” the armies of these four kings. He recovered all the valuable things that these kings had taken, including his nephew. When he was going back home after defeating the kings, he met Melchizedek. If your readers would need to know more about this background than the author states explicitly, you could include some extra information in your translation, or you could use a footnote to explain the story. Alternate translation: “Abraham, who was returning from the battle in which he defeated the four kings who had kidnapped his nephew,”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τῶν βασιλέων

˱of˲_the kings

Here, the word kings refers to both the kings and their armies. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer explicitly to their armies. Alternate translation: “of the kings and their fighting men”