OET interlinear HEB 7:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὧδε μὲν & ἐκεῖ δὲ

here on_one_hand & there on_the_other_hand

The phrase indeed here introduces the first situation: that of the priests descended from Levi. The phrase but there introduces the second situation: that of Melchizedek the priest. The author compares how they both receive tithes (implicitly with Melchizedek) and contrasts how the priests descended from Levi die but Melchizedek lives on. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that introduce two situations that the author wishes to compare and contrast. Alternate translation: “in the case of the Levites … but in the case of Melchizedek,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀποθνῄσκοντες ἄνθρωποι

dying_off people

Here, the phrase mortal men refers specifically to the priests descended from Levi. The author is emphasizing that all these priests die. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make clearer to whom mortal men refers . Alternate translation: “priests who will die”

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ

/being/_attested that ˱he˲_/is/_living

Here, the word he refers to Melchizedek. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make clear to whom he refers. Alternate translation: “Melchizedek is testified about that he lives on”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ

/being/_attested that ˱he˲_/is/_living

The author explicitly contrasts mortal men and he lives on. He does not explicitly restate the fact that Melchizedek too receives tithes, but he does imply it. If your readers would not make this inference, and if they would be confused about why the author does not mention tithes with Melchizedek, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “he is testified about that he received a tithe and that he lives on”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μαρτυρούμενος

/being/_attested

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The author uses the passive form here to focus on Melchizedek who is testified about rather than on the person doing the testifying. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it when he spoke through Moses in Genesis 14:18–20. Alternate translation: “God testifies about him” or “Moses testifies about him”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ

/being/_attested that ˱he˲_/is/_living

Here, just as in 7:3, the author is describing the character “Melchizedek” as he appears in Genesis 14:18–20. The author of that story does not mention anything about Melchizedek’s death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make it explicit that the author is referring to what the Old Testament tells us about Melchizedek. Alternate translation: “he is testified about that he lives on, since there is no record of his death in the Scriptures” or “the lack of any record of his death testifies that he lives on”