OET interlinear HEB 9:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑπεράνω & αὐτῆς

above & it

Here, the phrase above it places the cherubim on top of the “ark of the covenant.” They were not floating above the ark but were built on top of the ark. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea more explicitly. Alternate translation: “set on the ark” or “built on top of the ark”

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

Χερουβεὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος)

Here, the word cherubim refers to figures or statues of winged beings. The author describes them as overshadowing the atonement lid because God commanded the Israelites to make them so that their wings spread over the top of the ark. You can read about the cherubim and the atonement lid in Exodus 25:17–22. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “statues of glorious cherubim spreading their wings over the lid of the ark”

Note 3 topic: translate-transliterate

Χερουβεὶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος)

The word cherubim is a Hebrew word that the author spelled out in Greek letters. It is a plural word referring to more than one “cherub.” In your translation, you can spell it the way it sounds, or you can express what it means: powerful beings with wings. Alternate translation: “winged beings”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

Χερουβεὶν δόξης

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος)

Here the author uses the possessive form to show that the cherubim are characterized by glory. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea without using a possessive form. Alternate translation: “cherubim that are glorious” or “glorious cherubim”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

Χερουβεὶν δόξης

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind glory, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “glorious” or “great.” Alternate translation: “very great cherubim”

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

ὧν

which

Here, the phrase which things refers to everything about the “tabernacle” that the author has described in 9:2–5. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make explicit what which things refers to. Alternate translation: “all of which” or “about which things concerning the tabernacle and its furnishings”