OET interlinear JOB 29:25

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר דַּרְכָּ⁠ם֮ וְ⁠אֵשֵׁ֪ב רֹ֥אשׁ

chose (Some words not found in UHB: chose way_of,their and,I_sat head and,I_dwelt like,a_king among,troop[s] just=as mourners comforts )

Since Job chose the way for the people of his community because he was their chief, it might be more natural to reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [I sat as a chief and I chose their way]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר דַּרְכָּ⁠ם֮

chose (Some words not found in UHB: chose way_of,their and,I_sat head and,I_dwelt like,a_king among,troop[s] just=as mourners comforts )

Job is speaking of what he determined his community should do as if that were a way or path for the people to walk along. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I guided them about the right things to do]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠אֵשֵׁ֪ב רֹ֥אשׁ

(Some words not found in UHB: chose way_of,their and,I_sat head and,I_dwelt like,a_king among,troop[s] just=as mourners comforts )

Job is describing how he held the position of a chief by association with the way he sat in a place reserved for such a leader. (He refers similarly to “my seat” in [verse 7](../29/07.md).) If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and I was their chief]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וְ֭⁠אֶשְׁכּוֹן כְּ⁠מֶ֣לֶךְ בַּ⁠גְּד֑וּד

(Some words not found in UHB: chose way_of,their and,I_sat head and,I_dwelt like,a_king among,troop[s] just=as mourners comforts )

In this culture, kings would accompany their armies into the field as their commanders. The point of this comparison is probably that just as the authority of a king would be unquestioned within his army, so people did not question Job’s directions as their leader. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [and everyone respected my authority]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲבֵלִ֣ים יְנַחֵֽם

(Some words not found in UHB: chose way_of,their and,I_sat head and,I_dwelt like,a_king among,troop[s] just=as mourners comforts )

Job makes this further comparison to specify that he led the community gently and in its own best interests. He did not exercise his authority in an arbitrary, despotic way. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [but I was gentle and encouraging as a leader]