OET interlinear NEH 13:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

וְ⁠לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י מִ⁠זֶּ֔ה

and,to/for,before to,this

This phrase indicates that the events the story will now relate came before the events it has just described. If it would be helpful in your language, you could show this relationship by using a phrase such as “but before all this happened.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י מִ⁠זֶּ֔ה

and,to/for,before to,this

In this book, the expression face often refers to the front of a person, place, or object. Here the expression has the further figurative significance of “in front of” or “before” a certain time. Alternate translation: “before this time”

Note 3 topic: translate-names

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙

Eliashib

This is a man’s name. See how you translated it in 3:1.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֔ן

Eliashib the=priest/officer

Here the book repeats some background information to remind readers who Eliashib was. As we learn in 3:1, 3:20, and 12:10, he was actually the Jewish high priest during the time of Nehemiah. Alternate translation: “the high priest”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֔ן נָת֖וּן

Eliashib the=priest/officer appointed

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in active form. Alternate translation: “they appointed Eliashib the priest” or “the leaders appointed Eliashib the priest”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

נָת֖וּן בְּ⁠לִשְׁכַּ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

appointed in/on/at/with,chambers house_of God,our

This is most likely a figurative way of saying that as high priest, Eliashib had responsibility for and control over all the rooms in the temple. Alternate translation: “since he had control over”

קָר֖וֹב לְ⁠טוֹבִיָּֽה

related to,Tobiah

Since Tobiah was an Ammonite, Eliashib could not have been his close blood relative. So this expression must refer to a connection by marriage. We learn in 6:18 that both Tobiah and his son had married Jewish women, and one or both of these women may have been relatives of Eliashib. Alternate translation: “who was related to Tobiah by marriage”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

בְּ⁠לִשְׁכַּ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

in/on/at/with,chambers house_of God,our

Here one chamber or room is used to mean “every chamber” or room in the temple. Alternate translation: “every room in the temple”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

house_of God,our

As often in this book, Nehemiah speaks of the temple here as the house of God, as if it were God’s dwelling place. Alternate translation: “the temple”