OET interlinear ISA 1:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

ה֣וֹי

ah

Isaiah is using the word Woe to express a strong feeling of grief and judgment. There may be an equivalent word or phrase in your language that you can use in your translation to convey this feeling. If not, you could say what Isaiah was feeling, or you could say what made him grieve. Alternate translation: [How awful]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

גּ֣וֹי חֹטֵ֗א עַ֚ם כֶּ֣בֶד עָוֺ֔ן

nation sinful people weighed_down_of iniquity

The phrases A sinning nation and a people heavy of iniquity mean similar things. Isaiah is using the two phrases together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [A very sinful people]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

עַ֚ם כֶּ֣בֶד עָוֺ֔ן

people weighed_down_of iniquity

Yahweh is speaking as if the iniquity of the Israelites were actually heavy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who commit great iniquity]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

זֶ֣רַע מְרֵעִ֔ים

seed/offspring evildoers

Isaiah is speaking as if the descendants of evildoers were their seed. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [offspring of evildoers]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בָּנִ֖ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֑ים

sons deal_corruptly

Isaiah is speaking as if the people of Israel were sons in a family. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [people of mine who act corruptly]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נָזֹ֥רוּ אָחֽוֹר

turned backs

Isaiah is speaking as if rejecting Yahweh were physically turning away backward. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they have rejected him]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

אֶת־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל

DOM DOM holy_of Yisrael

Isaiah is using the adjective Holy as a noun to mean a certain kind of being. The ULT indicates this by supplying the word One. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this adjective with an equivalent phrase. This title for Yahweh occurs frequently throughout the book, so decide how you will represent it consistently in your translation. Alternate translation: [the Holy God of Israel]