OET interlinear JOB 28:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

קֵ֤ץ ׀ שָׂ֤ם לַ⁠חֹ֗שֶׁךְ

extremity/end_of puts to_the,darkness

Job means implicitly that the person he is describing either brings lights underground, where there is otherwise darkness, or opens a mineshaft that lets light in. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Bringing torches underground” or Opening a mine shaft”

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

וּֽ⁠לְ⁠כָל־תַּ֭כְלִית ה֣וּא חוֹקֵ֑ר אֶ֖בֶן

and=to/for=all recess he/it searches_out ore

The pronoun he refers to a person who is mining for precious metals. It does not refer back to anyone whom Job has mentioned previously. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “a miner searches, to every extremity, for a stone of”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

וּֽ⁠לְ⁠כָל־תַּ֭כְלִית ה֣וּא חוֹקֵ֑ר אֶ֖בֶן

and=to/for=all recess he/it searches_out ore

Job says every here as a generalization for emphasis. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the emphasis in a different way. Alternate translation: “a miner searches everywhere he can to try to find a stone of”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אֶ֖בֶן אֹ֣פֶל וְ⁠צַלְמָֽוֶת

ore gloom and,deep_darkness

Job is using this possessive form to describe a stone that can only be found in gloom and deep darkness. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “a stone that can only be found in gloom and deep darkness”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אֶ֖בֶן אֹ֣פֶל וְ⁠צַלְמָֽוֶת

ore gloom and,deep_darkness

Job is not referring to a specific stone. He means in general stone that contains precious metal, that is, ore. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using a plural form. Alternate translation: “ore that can only be found in gloom and deep darkness”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

אֶ֖בֶן אֹ֣פֶל וְ⁠צַלְמָֽוֶת

ore gloom and,deep_darkness

The terms gloom and deep darkness mean similar things. Job is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “ore that can only be found where it is very dark”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֶ֖בֶן אֹ֣פֶל וְ⁠צַלְמָֽוֶת

ore gloom and,deep_darkness

Job is using the phrase gloom and deep darkness by association to mean deep underground, where it is very dark. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “ore that can only be found deep underground”