OET interlinear JDG 8:31

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-participants

אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

ʼAⱱīmelek

The author is introducing Abimelech as a new participant in the story. He will be the main character in chapter 9. If your language has its own way of introducing new participants, you can use it here in your translation.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

ʼAⱱīmelek

The author could assume that his original audience would know that the Hebrew name Abimelech means “my father is king.” While Gideon had refused to become the actual king of Israel, he may have given this name to his son to suggest that he was, in a sense, a king, since he had been offered the kingship. Unfortunately this seems to have made Abimelech ambitious to become an actual king, with disastrous consequences, as chapter 9 describes. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate the meaning of this name explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: [Abimelech, which means “my father is king”]