OET interlinear ECC 6:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

These clauses mean basically the same thing. The second and third clauses emphasize the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [For, it came in vapor and will go into darkness, taking its name with it]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בַ⁠הֶ֥בֶל בָּ֖א

in,futility he/it_came

Solomon is speaking as if the stillborn child’s existence were vapor. He means its life was brief and fleeting. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [it came briefly]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

בַ⁠הֶ֥בֶל בָּ֖א

in,futility he/it_came

The pronoun it refers to the stillborn child. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [the stillborn child came in vapor]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וּ⁠בַ⁠חֹ֣שֶׁךְ

and,in,darkness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of darkness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the dark … the dark]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

שְׁמ֥⁠וֹ יְכֻסֶּֽה

his/its=name shrouded

The expression its name will be covered is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [no one will remember its name]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שְׁמ֥⁠וֹ יְכֻסֶּֽה

his/its=name shrouded

Here, name represents “memory” or “identity.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [its memory will be forgotten]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠בַ⁠חֹ֣שֶׁךְ יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּ⁠בַ⁠חֹ֖שֶׁךְ שְׁמ֥⁠וֹ יְכֻסֶּֽה

and,in,darkness goes and,in,darkness his/its=name shrouded

Solomon is speaking as if the stillborn child’s existence were surrounded by darkness. He means its life and memory will be obscure and forgotten. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly.