OET interlinear EXO 3:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה

and=he/it_said YHWH

After this phrase, a direct quote begins that continues through the end of 3:10. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this with an opening first-level quotation mark or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate the beginning of a quotation.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

רָאֹ֥ה רָאִ֛יתִי

seeing observed

The Hebrew practice of verb repetition for intensification cannot be directly translated into English. Here, “see” is repeated in Hebrew. This expresses the intensity, certainty, or clarity of Yahweh’s having seen how his people were suffering. Use a natural form of strengthening a verb from your language.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אֶת־עֳנִ֥י עַמִּ֖⁠י

DOM misery people,my

There are two possessives here: (1) “affliction of … people”: This is an event-related possessive where the people are the objects of affliction. They are treated badly as slaves. (2) “my people”: This one is more difficult as it involves both ownership and the possessive of social relationship. God views his people as his possession, and he is also in relationship with them as their God because they are descended from Abraham, though at this time they may not know God as theirs.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עֳנִ֥י עַמִּ֖⁠י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ⁠מִצְרָ֑יִם

misery people,my which/who in/on/at/with,Egypt

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun affliction in another way. Alternate translation: “how my people who are in Egypt are afflicted” or “how the Egyptians afflict my people”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִ⁠פְּנֵ֣י נֹֽגְשָׂ֔י⁠ו

from=face/in_front_of taskmasters,their

Here, faces refers to the whole person or the presence of the person(s) who were oppressing the Israelites. If this image is used in your language, you may translate it. If a similar image is used, you may consider using it. If neither is the case, you may omit the word “face” and translate the meaning.

נֹֽגְשָׂ֔י⁠ו

taskmasters,their

Alternate translation: “his oppressors”

כִּ֥י

that/for/because/then/when

Here, surely is intensifying the expression of Yahweh’s knowledge. Your translation should express Yahweh’s knowing with certainty or strength.

Note 6 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

נֹֽגְשָׂ֔י⁠ו & מַכְאֹבָֽי⁠ו

taskmasters,their & sufferings,their

These pronouns, him and his, refer to the Israelites as a group in the singular. They agree with “people” as a collective noun in 3:6. Some languages may have to use plural pronouns. Others may have to match the pronoun’s gender to the grammatical gender of the word for “people” in their language. If necessary, change “him” to “them” or change “his” to “hers” or “its” (depending on grammatical gender of “people.”) Alternate translation: “those who oppress them … their anguish”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מַכְאֹבָֽי⁠ו

sufferings,their

This is an event-related possessive where the people (as a group: his) are the subjects of anguish. Your translation should express that they are deeply distressed.

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַכְאֹבָֽי⁠ו

sufferings,their

It is implied that they are deeply distressed because they are treated badly as slaves. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express that explicitly. Alternate translation: “his anguish from his slavery”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מַכְאֹבָֽי⁠ו

sufferings,their

If your language does not use an abstract noun for this idea, you can express the idea behind the abstract noun anguish in another way. Alternate translation: “how distressed they are”