OET interlinear DEU 33:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / events

יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן

live Reuven

Moses is describing the blessing for the tribe of Reuben before describing the blessings for the other tribes that follow. If it would be helpful in your language, you may wish to make it clear that this begins Moses’ blessings to the individual tribes of Israel. Alternate translation: [And to Reuben he said, “Let Reuben live]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

רְאוּבֵ֖ן

Reuven

Here, Reuben represents the people from the tribe of Reuben. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the people of Reuben]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְ⁠אַל־יָמֹ֑ת

live Reuven and,not die

The terms live and not die mean the same thing. Moses is using the positive and the negative terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [Let Reuben certainly live]

וִ⁠יהִ֥י מְתָ֖י⁠ו מִסְפָּֽר

and=let_it_be men_of,his (Some words not found in UHB: live Reuven and,not die and=let_it_be men_of,his few )

The phrase but let his men be few is difficult to interpret because the Hebrew allows for multiple understandings. This could mean: (1) While Reuben’s tribe will not disappear, it will be small. Alternate translation: [but may his men be few] or (2) Not only will Reuben’s tribe not disappear, it will be big. Alternate translation: [and may his men not be few] or (3) Even though Reuben’s tribe is now small, may it continue. Alternate translation: [even though his men are few]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְ⁠אַל־יָמֹ֑ת וִ⁠יהִ֥י מְתָ֖י⁠ו מִסְפָּֽר

live Reuven and,not die and=let_it_be men_of,his (Some words not found in UHB: live Reuven and,not die and=let_it_be men_of,his few )

If your language does not use the third-person imperative let in this way, you could express the meaning in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [May Reuben live and not die, but may his men be few]