OET interlinear JOB 4:17

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

הַֽ֭⁠אֱנוֹשׁ מֵ⁠אֱל֣וֹהַ יִצְדָּ֑ק אִ֥ם מֵ֝⁠עֹשֵׂ֗⁠הוּ יִטְהַר־גָּֽבֶר

?,mortal before,God righteous if more_~_than,maker,his pure man

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “The spirit asked whether a man could be more righteous than God, if a man could be more pure than his Maker.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הַֽ֭⁠אֱנוֹשׁ מֵ⁠אֱל֣וֹהַ יִצְדָּ֑ק אִ֥ם מֵ֝⁠עֹשֵׂ֗⁠הוּ יִטְהַר־גָּֽבֶר

?,mortal before,God righteous if more_~_than,maker,his pure man

In both of these sentences, Eliphaz is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate these questions as statements or exclamations. Alternate translation: “A man cannot be more righteous than God! A man cannot be more pure than his Maker!”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הַֽ֭⁠אֱנוֹשׁ

?,mortal

The term that Eliphaz is using for man here implicitly means a “mortal.” You can indicate this in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “a mortal”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אִ֥ם מֵ֝⁠עֹשֵׂ֗⁠הוּ יִטְהַר־גָּֽבֶר

if more_~_than,maker,his pure man

Eliphaz is using the word If to introduce a question that anticipates a negative answer. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate this in your translation. Alternate translation: “A man cannot be more pure than his Maker, can he?”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

הַֽ֭⁠אֱנוֹשׁ & גָּֽבֶר

?,mortal & man

In each instance, the masculine term man has generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use language in your translation that is clearly inclusive of both men and women. Alternate translation: “a person … a person”