OET interlinear EST 1:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

וַ⁠יְהִ֖י

and=he/it_was

In the Old Testament, this is a standard way of beginning a historical story. Many languages have similar story-opening formulas, and if your language has one, you can use it. But do not use it if it would suggest that the story is not real, only made up. Alternate translation: [this account happened]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בִּ⁠ימֵ֣י אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ

in,the_days_of ʼAḩashvērōsh

The term day is used here to refer to a longer period of time. You could just say “during the reign of Ahasuerus,” as UST does. But as an alternative, you could say, “in the time of Ahasuerus”

Note 3 topic: translate-names

אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ

ʼAḩashvērōsh

This is a man’s name. It occurs many times in the story. Be sure to translate it consistently.

Note 4 topic: writing-background

ה֣וּא אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ הַ⁠מֹּלֵךְ֙ מֵ⁠הֹ֣דּוּ וְ⁠עַד־כּ֔וּשׁ שֶׁ֛בַע וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּ⁠מֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה

he/it ʼAḩashvērōsh [who],reigned from,India and=unto Kūsh seven and=twenty and,one_hundred provinces

This is background information to help the reader identify Ahasuerus.

ה֣וּא אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ הַ⁠מֹּלֵךְ֙

he/it ʼAḩashvērōsh [who],reigned

Alternate translation: [This king named Ahasuerus ruled]

Note 5 topic: writing-background

מֵ⁠הֹ֣דּוּ וְ⁠עַד־כּ֔וּשׁ

from,India and=unto Kūsh

In case your audience might not know where these places are, you could say, “extending from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west.”

Note 6 topic: writing-background

שֶׁ֛בַע וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּ⁠מֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה

seven and=twenty and,one_hundred provinces

The number is given to show what a large empire this was. You could say that explicitly by saying, “Ahasuerus ruled a very large empire that had 127 provinces.”

Note 7 topic: translate-numbers

שֶׁ֛בַע וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּ⁠מֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה

seven and=twenty and,one_hundred provinces

Alternate translation: [one hundred twenty-seven provinces]