OET interlinear ISA 28:25

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

הֲ⁠לוֹא֙ אִם־שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔י⁠הָ

am=not if levelled surface_of,its

Isaiah is presenting a rhetorical condition. The expected answer is that the farmer does indeed level the ground and plant various seeds. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that assumes a positive answer. It may be helpful to reorder this sentence so that the conditional statement is first. Alternate translation: [Can it be that he does not level its face]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

אִם

if

See how you translated the term “Or” in [10:9](http://../10/09.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הֲ⁠לוֹא֙ & שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔י⁠הָ

am=not & levelled surface_of,its

Isaiah is using its face as a common expression of the culture to mean “its surface.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [he does not level its surface]

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

פָנֶ֔י⁠הָ

surface_of,its

The pronoun its refers to the ground. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [the ground’s face]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

קֶ֖צַח

dill

Black cumin is a kind of aromatic seed plant (Nigella sativa) used for flavoring food. If your readers would not be familiar with what black cumin is, you could use the name of a similar thing that your readers would recognize, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [spice seeds]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נִסְמָ֔ן

plots

The expression appointed is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [in its proper place]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

וְ⁠כֻסֶּ֖מֶת

and,spelt

Spelt is a kind of grain similar to wheat. If your readers would not be familiar with what spelt is, you could use the name of a similar thing that your readers would recognize, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [and grain]