OET interlinear GEN 15:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָ֗ם

and=he/it_said Avram

The way you translate this quote margin may depend on how you translate the following rhetorical question. Alternate translation: [But Abram asked him]

Note 2 topic: writing-politeness

אֲדֹנָ֤⁠י יֱהוִה֙

my=master GOD

The phrase My Lord means that Yahweh owns Abram and has complete authority over him, just as a master (at that time) had complete authority over his servant. Alternate translation: [My Master Yahweh] or [Yahweh my Lord]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

אֲדֹנָ֤⁠י יֱהוִה֙ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔⁠י וְ⁠אָנֹכִ֖י הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עֲרִירִ֑י וּ⁠בֶן־מֶ֣שֶׁק בֵּיתִ֔⁠י ה֖וּא דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃

my=master GOD what? give to=me and,I continue childless and,the_son_of inherit_of my_household_of,my he/it Dammeseq (Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said Avram my=master GOD what? give to=me and,I continue childless and,the_son_of inherit_of my_household_of,my he/it Dammeseq ʼElīˊezer )

Abram uses this rhetorical question to show that he is lamenting that he has no children. Make sure in your translation that he does not sound rude. Alternate translation: [My Lord Yahweh, any reward that you give to me that would not benefit me, because the son of the inheritance of my house is the Damascan, Eliezer!] or [My Lord Yahweh, even if you reward me greatly, that will not help me since my heir is my servant Eliezer of Damascus.]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠בֶן־מֶ֣שֶׁק

and,the_son_of inherit_of

The phrase son of the inheritance is used here as a common expression meaning “inheritor” or “heir”; it does not refer to an actual son. Consider whether or not your language has a similar expression. Also consider whether or not it is better in your language to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: [for after I die, the heir of] or [Because when I die, the one who will own]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

בֵּיתִ֔⁠י

my_household_of,my

This phrase refers here to all of Abram’s belongings. Alternate translation: [my estate] or [all that I own]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר

Dammeseq ʼElīˊezer

In the Hebrew text, Abram emphasizes the fact that Eliezer was from Damascus, which means he was a foreigner from a foreign city, not a blood relative. Consider what is the best way to communicate that in your language. Also, note how you translated “the city of Damascus” in Genesis [14:15](../14/15.md). Alternate translation: [is my foreign servant, Eliezer, who is from Damascus]