OET interlinear EZRA 4:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

וַ⁠יֹּאמֶר֩

and=he/it_said

The word But indicates that the sentence it introduces draws a contrast between what the men asked and what the Jewish leaders answered. You could begin the sentence with a word like “however” or “nevertheless” to indicate this contrast, or use another method that is natural in your language.

Note 2 topic: translate-names

זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְ⁠יֵשׁ֗וּעַ

Zərubāⱱel and,Jeshua

These are the names of two men. See how you translated them in 2:2.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

רָאשֵׁ֤י הָֽ⁠אָבוֹת֙

heads_of the,families

This is an abbreviated way of saying “the heads of father’s houses.” See how you translated this expression in 1:5. Review the note there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “the clan leaders”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לֹֽא־לָ֣⁠כֶם וָ⁠לָ֔⁠נוּ

not to/for=you_all and,with,us

This expression is an idiom that means “it is for us alone.” Alternate translation: “You may not help us”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בַּ֖יִת לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

house to,God_of,our

Alternate translation: “a temple for our God”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

to,God_of,our

Here, our is exclusive, excluding the non-Jewish hearers.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

to,God_of,our

The Israelites could say that Yahweh is our God not in the sense that they possess or control him, but in the sense that they worship him exclusively. Alternate translation: “for the God whom we worship”

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

כִּי֩

that/for/because/then/when

The word but indicates that the clause it introduces draws a contrast between what the men asked and what the Jewish leaders were prepared to allow. To indicate this contrast, you could begin the sentence with a word or phrase such as “no,” “rather,” or “on the contrary.”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

אֲנַ֨חְנוּ יַ֜חַד נִבְנֶ֗ה לַֽ⁠יהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

we alone let_us_build to/for=YHWH god_of Yisrael

We ourselves here does not include the addressees. If your language marks that distinction, be sure that this is clear in your translation. Together does not mean the Jewish people and these foreign peoples together. It means the whole Jewish community together. Alternate translation: “it is all of us Israelites who will build a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

god_of Yisrael

See the note to 4:1 about the significance of this phrase.

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔⁠נוּ הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס

just=as commanded,us the=king Kōresh/(Cyrus) king Pāraş

It is implicit in the story that the Jewish leaders know that they cannot trust these foreign leaders, whom the story describes as their enemies. The Jewish leaders suggest indirectly that they do not accept their claim that they worship Yahweh. They say, “It is not for you … to build a house for our God,” and they describe Yahweh as the God of Israel exclusively. But apparently they cannot contradict the claim directly, perhaps for reasons of etiquette and diplomacy. Instead, it seems that they find convenient grounds to exclude foreigners from the temple project in the literal wording of the proclamation that Cyrus issued: “Whoever among you is from all his people … may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel” (1:3). It may be possible in your translation to translate this phrase in such a way that your readers will implicitly recognize it as the convenient excuse that it apparently is. Alternate translation: “for that is what King Cyrus of Persia commanded”