OET interlinear DEU 21:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

כַּפֵּר֩

(Some words not found in UHB: forgive for,people_of,your Yisrael which/who redeemed YHWH and,do_not hold guilt_of_~_blood innocent in,the_midst_of your_people_of,your Yisrael and,it_will_be_atoned_for to/for=them the,blood )

Here the elders are speaking as if Yahweh could literally Cover his people Israel. They are asking God to protect his people from guilt. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Forgive] or [Show mercy to]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וְ⁠אַל־תִּתֵּן֙ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֔י בְּ⁠קֶ֖רֶב עַמְּ⁠ךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

and,do_not (Some words not found in UHB: forgive for,people_of,your Yisrael which/who redeemed YHWH and,do_not hold guilt_of_~_blood innocent in,the_midst_of your_people_of,your Yisrael and,it_will_be_atoned_for to/for=them the,blood )

The speakers are using put the blood of the innocent in the midst of your people Israel as a common expression of their culture to mean “hold your people responsible for the murder of an innocent person.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and do not hold your people Israel accountable for the death of this innocent person] or [and do not charge your people Israel with the guilt of this murder]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

דָּ֣ם נָקִ֔י

(Some words not found in UHB: forgive for,people_of,your Yisrael which/who redeemed YHWH and,do_not hold guilt_of_~_blood innocent in,the_midst_of your_people_of,your Yisrael and,it_will_be_atoned_for to/for=them the,blood )

Moses is using the adjective innocent as a noun to mean a certain kind of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this adjective with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [the blood of the person who has not done anything wrong]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְ⁠נִכַּפֵּ֥ר לָ⁠הֶ֖ם הַ⁠דָּֽם

(Some words not found in UHB: forgive for,people_of,your Yisrael which/who redeemed YHWH and,do_not hold guilt_of_~_blood innocent in,the_midst_of your_people_of,your Yisrael and,it_will_be_atoned_for to/for=them the,blood )

The expression be covered is a passive verbal form. If your language would not use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who does the action, the context indicates that it is Yahweh. Alternate translation: [Then Yahweh will cover the guilt of this bloodshed and forgive his people] or [Then Yahweh will remove their guilt for this death]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠נִכַּפֵּ֥ר לָ⁠הֶ֖ם הַ⁠דָּֽם

(Some words not found in UHB: forgive for,people_of,your Yisrael which/who redeemed YHWH and,do_not hold guilt_of_~_blood innocent in,the_midst_of your_people_of,your Yisrael and,it_will_be_atoned_for to/for=them the,blood )

Here Moses is speaking as if the guilt of shedding blood were actually something that could be covered. This refers to the guilt of bloodshed being forgiven or hidden from sight. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [And they will be forgiven for the death of this person] or [And Yahweh will remove their guilt for this bloodshed]