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interlinearVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH EZRA NEH EST JOB PSA PRO ECC SNG ISA JER LAM EZE DAN HOS JOEL AMOS OBA YNA MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs ROM 1COR 2COR GAL EPH PHP COL 1TH 2TH 1TIM 2TIM TIT PHM HEB YAC 1PET 2PET 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN YUD REV
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OET (OET-LV) And_he/it_said god let_us_make humankind in_our_image according_to_our_likeness/pattern and_they_will_rule_over on/over_(a)_fish_of the_sea and_on/over_bird_of the_heavens and_on/over_cattle/livestock and_on/over_all the_earth/land and_on/over_all the_creeping_(thing) the_(one)_creeping on the_earth/land.
OET (OET-RV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every creature moving on the earth.”
Note 1 topic: writing-quotations
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים
and=he/it_said ʼₑlhīmv
Here God is not commanding anything to happen, but is getting ready to personally create mankind himself (the details are given in Gen 2:7, 21-22). Some languages have to specify who is being spoken to. Do what is best in your language.
נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה
we_will_make
Most Bible scholars think that the plural pronouns (us and our) in this verse refer to God and reflect the fact that he is three Persons in one God. So it is best to keep these pronouns plural in your translation. Also, many translations capitalize the first letter of all pronouns that refer to God in order to show him honor and respect. Your translation team needs to decide whether or not you will do that too. Be consistent with your decision as you translate the Bible. Alternate translation: “Now we will make”
אָדָ֛ם
humankind
The Hebrew word for man is used here (and in verse 27) as a collective noun that refers to human beings in general, including both male and female. Alternate translation: “mankind”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet
בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ
in=our=image according_to=our=likeness/pattern
These two phrases have similar meanings and emphasize that God made mankind to be like himself in many ways. Alternate translation: “to be like us, so that they are similar to us in many ways,”
וְיִרְדּוּ֩
and=they_will_rule_over
Consider whether or not it is better in your language to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “and let us put them in control of” or “We will give them authority to rule”
בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם
on/over=(a)_fish_of the=sea
Alternate translation: “the fish in the sea”
וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם
and=on/over=bird_of the=heavens
Some translations leave out the phrase of the sky because it is strongly implied and may not sound natural in their languages. However, if it is natural in your language, it is best to include this phrase, because the author repeatedly contrasts three large categories of animals in this section: creatures that live on the ground, creatures that swim in the water, and creatures that fly in the sky. Alternate translation: “the birds that fly in the sky”
וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙
and=on/over=cattle/livestock
Consider again how you translated livestock in verses 24-26. Alternate translation: “the farm animals,”
וּבְכָל הָאָ֔רֶץ
and=on/over=all the=earth/land
This refers to the planet earth and everything on it, including water, soil, metals, minerals, and other resources, as well as all the plants and animals.
וּבְכָל הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל הָאָֽרֶץ
and=on/over=all and=on/over=all the=creeping_(thing) the=(one)_creeping on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=earth/land
For some languages it is not natural to repeat and or over with each item in this list. Consider what is the best way to translate a list like this in your language. Alternate translation: “including every creature that moves on the earth.” or “and all the animals that live on the earth.”
1:26 Let us make is more personal than the remote “Let there be” (e.g., 1:3, 6).
• The plural us has inspired several explanations: (1) the Trinity; (2) the plural to denote majesty; (3) a plural to show deliberation with the self; and (4) God speaking with his heavenly court of angels. The concept of the Trinity—one true God who exists eternally in three distinct persons—was revealed at a later stage in redemptive history, making it unlikely that the human author intended that here. Hebrew scholars generally dismiss the plural of majesty view because the grammar does not clearly support it (the plural of majesty has not been demonstrated to be communicated purely through a plural verb). The plural of self-deliberation also lacks evidence; the only clear examples refer to Israel as a corporate unity (e.g., 2 Sam 24:14). God’s speaking to the heavenly court, however, is well-attested in the Old Testament (see Gen 3:22; 11:7; 1 Kgs 22:19-22; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; 38:7; Ps 89:5-6; Isa 6:1-8; Dan 10:12-13).
• The descriptors in our image and like us are virtually synonymous in Hebrew. Humans enjoy a unique relationship with God.
• They will reign: Humans represent the Creator as his ambassadors, vice-regents, and administrators on earth.
OET (OET-LV) And_he/it_said god let_us_make humankind in_our_image according_to_our_likeness/pattern and_they_will_rule_over on/over_(a)_fish_of the_sea and_on/over_bird_of the_heavens and_on/over_cattle/livestock and_on/over_all the_earth/land and_on/over_all the_creeping_(thing) the_(one)_creeping on the_earth/land.
OET (OET-RV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every creature moving on the earth.”
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Greek words that they’re translated from.