OET interlinear JOB 34:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

אֹ֭זֶן מִלִּ֣ין תִּבְחָ֑ן וְ֝⁠חֵ֗ךְ יִטְעַ֥ם לֶ⁠אֱכֹֽל

ear words tests and,palate tastes to,food

As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, Elihu is using the same phrase that Job used to tell his friends in 12:11 that he had considered and rejected their perspective. Elihu is quoting Job in order to tell him that, for his part, he has considered Job’s perspective and rejected it. To help your readers recognize this, you may wish to use the same language in your translation here as you did in 12:11.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

אֹ֭זֶן מִלִּ֣ין תִּבְחָ֑ן וְ֝⁠חֵ֗ךְ יִטְעַ֥ם לֶ⁠אֱכֹֽל

ear words tests and,palate tastes to,food

Elihu is using the word and to indicate that the phrase it introduces is just as true as the previous phrase. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate this in your translation. Alternate translation: “the ear tests words, just as the palate tastes food”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

אֹ֭זֶן מִלִּ֣ין תִּבְחָ֑ן וְ֝⁠חֵ֗ךְ יִטְעַ֥ם לֶ⁠אֱכֹֽל

ear words tests and,palate tastes to,food

Elihu is speaking of the ear as if it could test words by itself. He is using the ear to represent hearing, and he means that people themselves test or consider the words of others when they hear them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “people consider others’ words when they hear them, just as people discern with their mouths the taste of their food”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אֹ֭זֶן מִלִּ֣ין תִּבְחָ֑ן וְ֝⁠חֵ֗ךְ יִטְעַ֥ם לֶ⁠אֱכֹֽל

ear words tests and,palate tastes to,food

Though Elihu is making a general statement, he is referring implicitly to what Job has said and what he has decided about it. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “I have heard what Job has said and I have considered it and decided that it is not true, just as people discern with their mouths the taste of their food”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִלִּ֣ין

words

Elihu is using the term words to mean what people say by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “what people say”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וְ֝⁠חֵ֗ךְ יִטְעַ֥ם לֶ⁠אֱכֹֽל

and,palate tastes to,food

Elihu is speaking of the palate or mouth as if it could taste by itself. He means that with their mouths, people discern the taste of the food that they eat. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “just as people discern with their mouths the taste of their food”