OET interlinear EST 10:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֣י

that/for/because/then/when

This word indicates that this verse will give the reason why the scribes made a record about Mordecai.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֗י

the,Jew

This phrase gives clarifying information about Mordecai.

מִשְׁנֶה֙ לַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ

second to/for=the_king ʼAḩashəvērōshz

Alternate translation: “was the second most important person after King Ahasuerus himself”

וְ⁠גָדוֹל֙ לַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֔ים

and,great among_the,Jews

Alternate translation: “and a great leader of the Jews”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אֶחָ֑י⁠ו

brothers,his

Here, brothers is a figurative way of describing fellow members of the same people group. Alternate translation: “fellow Jews”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ

sought good of,people,his and,spoke welfare to/from=all/each/any/every his/its=seed

These two phrases basically mean the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize how hard Mordecai worked for the good of his people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine these phrases and say something like, “He worked hard so his people and their descendants would prosper.”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ

sought good of,people,his and,spoke welfare to/from=all/each/any/every his/its=seed

The abstract nouns good and peace refer in this context to prosperity and security. You could translate these ideas with verbs, for example, you could say, “He worked hard to make sure that his people would prosper and their descendants would be secure.”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ

sought good of,people,his

Seeking is a figurative way to describe actively trying to do something or work hard for something.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ

and,spoke welfare to/from=all/each/any/every his/its=seed

Speaking peace is a figurative way of describing actions that benefit the general welfare of others.

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ

to/from=all/each/any/every his/its=seed

As in verses 27 and 28, seed means “descendants.” seed means “descendants.” Even if you combine the two parallel phrases, you can still convey the idea of “down through the generations” with a word such as “always.” Alternate translation: “to all of their descendants”