OET interlinear JDG 2:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֛ה

angel YHWH

The phrase the angel of Yahweh could mean: (1) “an angel who represented Yahweh” or “a messenger who served Yahweh.” (2) Yahweh himself, who looked like an angel as he talked to the Israelites. Either one of these meanings would explain the angel’s use of “I” as if Yahweh himself was talking. In your translation, use the words you have already been using for “angel” and “Yahweh” in the phrase the angel of Yahweh. This will allow for different interpretations of that phrase. Alternate translation: “And an angel from Yahweh” or “And an angel sent by Yahweh” or “And Yahweh, who looked like an angel,”

Note 2 topic: translate-names

הַ⁠בֹּכִ֑ים

the,Bochim

The word Bokim is the name of a place. The Israelites actually give the place this name at the end of this episode, in 2:5, but the author is using it here because his readers knew the place by that name. See the UST for one way to handle this issue.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יֹּאמֶר֩

and=he/it_said

The author is leaving some information implicit that he assumes readers will understand. You could state this information explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and said to the Israelites, who had gathered there,”

Note 4 topic: translate-tense

אַעֲלֶ֨ה אֶתְ⁠כֶ֜ם

brought_~_up DOM,you_all

The angel, speaking on behalf of Yahweh, is using the present tense to describe a past event. He may be doing that because delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and settling them in the land of Canaan together constitute a single work on their behalf that was still ongoing at this point. However, if it would not be natural for a speaker of your language to use the present tense in such a context, you could use the past tense in your translation. Alternate translation: “I brought you up from Egypt”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לַ⁠אֲבֹ֣תֵי⁠כֶ֔ם

to,fathers,your_all's

As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, the angel is using the term fathers to mean “ancestors.” If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “to your ancestors”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

וָ⁠אֹמַ֕ר לֹֽא־אָפֵ֧ר בְּרִיתִ֛⁠י אִתְּ⁠כֶ֖ם לְ⁠עוֹלָֽם

and,said not break covenant,my with,you_all for,ever

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “And I have said that I would not break my covenant with you, to eternity”