OET interlinear ISA 33:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

כִּ֣י אִם

(Some words not found in UHB: that/for/because/then/when if there mighty YHWH to/for=us place/spot rivers streams ones_broad_of hands no go in/on/over=him/it galley_of oars and,a_ship mighty not it,will_pass_along_it )

Isaiah uses the word Instead here to indicate a contrast between the insecurity of the tent in the previous verse and the mighty presence of Yahweh. In your translation, indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [But]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

לָ֔⁠נוּ

to/for=us

By us, Isaiah means himself and the people of Judah but not those outside their community, so use the exclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מְקוֹם נְהָרִ֥ים יְאֹרִ֖ים רַחֲבֵ֣י יָדָ֑יִם

place/spot rivers streams ones_broad_of hands

Isaiah is speaking as if Yahweh’s protective presence were a place of rivers, streams, broad of hands. By this he means that Yahweh’s presence provides security like a wide river that enemy ships cannot cross. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a place protected by wide rivers and streams]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מְקוֹם נְהָרִ֥ים

place/spot rivers

Isaiah is using the possessive form to describe a place that is characterized by having wide rivers and streams. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [a place with rivers]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מְקוֹם־נְהָרִ֥ים יְאֹרִ֖ים רַחֲבֵ֣י יָדָ֑יִם

place/spot rivers streams ones_broad_of hands

Isaiah is using broad of hands as a common expression of the culture to mean “wide” or “expansive.” 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: [a place with wide rivers and streams]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אֳנִי שַׁ֔יִט

galley_of oars

Isaiah is using the possessive form to describe a ship that is propelled by oar. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [A ship propelled by oars]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

בַּל־תֵּ֤לֶךְ בּ⁠וֹ֙ אֳנִי־שַׁ֔יִט וְ⁠צִ֥י אַדִּ֖יר לֹ֥א יַעַבְרֶֽ⁠נּוּ

no go in/on/over=him/it galley_of oars and,a_ship mighty not it,will_pass_along_it

The pronoun it refers to the river described earlier in this verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [A ship propelled by oars will not go on the river and no mighty vessel will pass over the river]