OET interlinear 1 KI 9:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אִם־שׁ֨וֹב תְּשֻׁב֜וּ⁠ן אַתֶּ֤ם וּ⁠בְנֵי⁠כֶם֙ מֵֽ⁠אַחֲרַ֔⁠י

if to_turn (Some words not found in UHB: if to_turn you(pl),will_turn_back you(pl) and,descendants_of,your(pl) from,after,me and=not keep commandments_of,my statutes_of,my which/who I_give before,,you(pl) and,you(pl)_will_go and,you(pl)_will_serve ʼElohīm other and,you(pl)_will_bow_down to/for=them )

Yahweh is speaking as if Solomon or his descendants would be walking behind him but then might turn away to walk in a different direction. He means that they would stop living in the manner in which he wants people to live. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [If you or your sons ever stop following me] or [If you or your sons ever stop being devoted to me as your God]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

אִם־שׁ֨וֹב תְּשֻׁב֜וּ⁠ן

if to_turn (Some words not found in UHB: if to_turn you(pl),will_turn_back you(pl) and,descendants_of,your(pl) from,after,me and=not keep commandments_of,my statutes_of,my which/who I_give before,,you(pl) and,you(pl)_will_go and,you(pl)_will_serve ʼElohīm other and,you(pl)_will_bow_down to/for=them )

Yahweh is repeating forms of the verb turn in order to intensify his expression of the idea that it conveys. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the intensification. Alternate translation: [If you ever turn]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

תְּשֻׁב֜וּ⁠ן אַתֶּ֤ם & וְ⁠לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְרוּ֙ & לִ⁠פְנֵי⁠כֶ֑ם וַ⁠הֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם

(Some words not found in UHB: if to_turn you(pl),will_turn_back you(pl) and,descendants_of,your(pl) from,after,me and=not keep commandments_of,my statutes_of,my which/who I_give before,,you(pl) and,you(pl)_will_go and,you(pl)_will_serve ʼElohīm other and,you(pl)_will_bow_down to/for=them )

The word you is singular in the first two instances because Yahweh is using it to refer to Solomon. The words you and your (and the implied “you” in the verbs serve and bow down) are plural in the rest of the verse because Yahweh is using them to refer to Solomon and his sons. Use the appropriate singular and plural forms in each case in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִ⁠פְנֵי⁠כֶ֑ם

before,,you(pl)

Here, to your faces means “in front of you.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [I have set in front of you]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠פְנֵי⁠כֶ֑ם

before,,you(pl)

Yahweh is speaking as if his commandments and statutes were objects that he had physically placed in front of the Israelites where they could see them. He means that he has given them these laws to obey. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I have told you to obey]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠הֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם וַ⁠עֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים

(Some words not found in UHB: if to_turn you(pl),will_turn_back you(pl) and,descendants_of,your(pl) from,after,me and=not keep commandments_of,my statutes_of,my which/who I_give before,,you(pl) and,you(pl)_will_go and,you(pl)_will_serve ʼElohīm other and,you(pl)_will_bow_down to/for=them )

In describing this possible condition, Yahweh is not envisioning that Solomon or later kings would go somewhere in order to serve other gods and bow down to them. He is using the term go to mean that a king might resolve to do these things and take action to do them (leading his Israelite subjects to do the same). Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also use plain language. If you have already translated the book of 2 Samuel, see how you translated the similar expression in [2 Samuel 7:3](../2sa/07/03.md). Alternate translation: [and you decide to serve other gods and bow down to them]

Note 7 topic: translate-symaction

וַ⁠עֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְ⁠הִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָ⁠הֶֽם

(Some words not found in UHB: if to_turn you(pl),will_turn_back you(pl) and,descendants_of,your(pl) from,after,me and=not keep commandments_of,my statutes_of,my which/who I_give before,,you(pl) and,you(pl)_will_go and,you(pl)_will_serve ʼElohīm other and,you(pl)_will_bow_down to/for=them )

When applied to “other gods,” the term “serve” refers to honoring them by living as their followers did, building shrines for them, and following religious practices such as praying to them and offering sacrifices to them. Bowing down to these gods (physically bowing to an idol that represented them in a shrine or temple) was a symbolic action of surrender to them as one’s lord. It represented a definitive further step, beyond the idea of “serving” or honoring them, that would provoke Yahweh’s judgment, as he describes in the following verses. So we recommend that you do not combine these two phrases in your translation. While their meaning is similar, there is a significant difference between them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain in the text of your translation or in a footnote the significance of bowing down. Alternate translation: [and honor other gods and ultimately commit yourself to them by bowing down to them]