OET interlinear HEB 9:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

χρυσοῦν & θυμιατήριον

/the/_golden & incense_altar

To provide further background about the “first covenant,” here the author refers to the altar in the tabernacle. It was a small structure on which priests would burn incense, which is a substance that gives off a sweet smell when someone burns it. This altar was coated in “gold.” You can read about the golden incense altar in Exodus 30:1–10. Use a phrase that refers to a structure or object that someone would use to offer things to God. Alternate translation: “a sacred table for burning incense, covered in gold,”

Note 2 topic: writing-background

τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης, περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ

the ark ˱of˲_the covenant /having_been/_covered_around on_every_side ˱with˲_gold

The author also refers to the ark of the covenant by way of background. It was a box or chest in the tabernacle where God was present in a special way. This chest was coated in gold and symbolized God’s covenant with Israel. You can read about the design of the ark of the covenant in Exodus 25:10–22. Use a phrase that refers to a chest or box that has special meaning and importance. Alternate translation: “the special covenantal box that was covered completely all around with gold”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ

/having_been/_covered_around on_every_side ˱with˲_gold

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 the ark that was covered rather than the person doing the covering. If you must state who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: “which someone covered completely all around with gold”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν

/having_been/_covered_around on_every_side

Here, the words completely and all around mean almost the same thing. The author uses these words to emphasize that every part of the ark was covered with gold. If you do not have two words that express this particular meaning, and if repeating the same word would be confusing, you could use one word or phrase here. Alternate translation: “having been covered completely” or “having been covered on every side”

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

ἐν ᾗ

in which

Here, the word which refers to the ark, not the “tent.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could make explicit that the pronoun refers to the ark. Alternate translation: “in which ark was”

Note 6 topic: writing-background

στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα

jar golden having the manna

To provide further background about the “first covenant,” here the author refers to the golden jar in the ark that held manna, which was the food that God miraculously provided for his people while they traveled through the wilderness. God told Moses to keep some manna as a reminder of how he provided for them. You can read about Moses and Aaron putting a jar of manna in the ark in Exodus 16:32–34. It is not clear what kind of jar this was, so use a general word if possible. Alternate translation: “a golden vessel containing the manna that God provided for his people”

Note 7 topic: translate-transliterate

τὸ μάννα

the manna

The word manna is a Hebrew word that the Israelites used to describe the special food that God provided for them. The author spells it out using Greek letters so his readers will know how it sounds. In your translation you could spell it the way it sounds in your language, or you could use a general expression that explains its meaning. Alternate translation: “the special food that God provided for his people”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ βλαστήσασα

the staff ˱of˲_Aaron ¬which /having/_sprouted

Here the author refers to a story about how some people wanted to be priests instead of Aaron. God had the leaders of each of the twelve tribes put a rod or walking stick in the tabernacle. God then made the rod of Aaron “bud” as proof that God had chosen him to be priest. You can read the story about the rod of Aaron in Numbers 17:1–11. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “Aaron’s staff that budded, which proved that God had chosen him as priest”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης

the tablets ˱of˲_the covenant

Here the author refers to two stone tablets on which Moses wrote the most important parts of God’s covenant with the Israelites. You can read about the tablets in Exodus 34:1–28. The words on these tablets were the Ten Commandments, which you can find in Exodus 20:1–17. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “the stone plaques on which Moses wrote the Ten Commandments”