OET interlinear DEU 13:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

הַכֵּ֣ה

(Some words not found in UHB: and,you_will_investigate and,you_will_search and,you_will_enquire thoroughly and=see/lo/see! true established the,matter done the,abomination (the),this in,midst_of,your )

The instruction starts here for what to do if the condition expressed in verses 12–14 happen. Use a connector that makes it clear that this is what to do if a condition happens. Alternate translation: [then striking]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

הַכֵּ֣ה תַכֶּ֗ה

(Some words not found in UHB: and,you_will_investigate and,you_will_search and,you_will_enquire thoroughly and=see/lo/see! true established the,matter done the,abomination (the),this in,midst_of,your )

Moses is repeating forms of the verb strike in order to intensify his expression of the idea that it conveys. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the intensification. Alternate translation: [you shall certainly strike] or [you shall surely strike]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

הַכֵּ֣ה תַכֶּ֗ה אֶת־יֹֽשְׁבֵ֛י הָ⁠עִ֥יר ה⁠הוא

(Some words not found in UHB: and,you_will_investigate and,you_will_search and,you_will_enquire thoroughly and=see/lo/see! true established the,matter done the,abomination (the),this in,midst_of,your )

Here, striking represents killing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you shall certainly kill the dwellers of that city]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לְ⁠פִי־חָ֑רֶב & לְ⁠פִי־חָֽרֶב

(Some words not found in UHB: and,you_will_investigate and,you_will_search and,you_will_enquire thoroughly and=see/lo/see! true established the,matter done the,abomination (the),this in,midst_of,your )

Here Moses is using the expression to the mouth of the swords in connection with the term devoting. These were common expressions of his culture that could refer to destroying something completely. See how you translated the related phrase “devoted” in [2:34](../02/34.md). If these phrases do not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that do have that meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [by destroying it completely … by destroying them completely]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הַחֲרֵ֨ם אֹתָ֧⁠הּ וְ⁠אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֛⁠הּ וְ⁠אֶת־בְּהֶמְתָּ֖⁠הּ לְ⁠פִי־חָֽרֶב

(Some words not found in UHB: and,you_will_investigate and,you_will_search and,you_will_enquire thoroughly and=see/lo/see! true established the,matter done the,abomination (the),this in,midst_of,your )

The implication is that the Israelites were supposed kill everyone in this type of city so that no person or livestock were left living there. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [completely destroying it and all who are in it and its livestock so that there is nothing living there]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

אֹתָ֧⁠הּ & בָּ֛⁠הּ & בְּהֶמְתָּ֖⁠הּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and,you_will_investigate and,you_will_search and,you_will_enquire thoroughly and=see/lo/see! true established the,matter done the,abomination (the),this in,midst_of,your )

The pronouns it and its refers to the “city.” If this is not clear for your readers, you could repeat the word. Alternate translation: [that city … are in that city … that city’s livestock]