OET interlinear NEH 2:5

uW Translation Notes:

וָ⁠אֹמַ֣ר לַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

and,I_said (Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

Alternate translation: [Then I replied to the king]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב

if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in (Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

This is an idiom that means, “If it seems good in your judgment”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב

if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in (Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

Nehemiah speaks to the king in third person as a form of respect. Alternate translation: [If it seems good in your judgment]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

וְ⁠אִם־יִיטַ֥ב עַבְדְּ⁠ךָ֖ לְ⁠פָנֶ֑י⁠ךָ

and=if found_favour (Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

Here, face could be referring to the king himself by naming one part of him. What he thought and felt about Nehemiah’s request would become evident in his face first, so that would be an appropriate part of him to use to represent all of him. Another possibility is that face means the presence of a person. Alternate translation: [if you are pleased with me] or [as I stand here before you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

וְ⁠אִם־יִיטַ֥ב עַבְדְּ⁠ךָ֖ לְ⁠פָנֶ֑י⁠ךָ

and=if found_favour (Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

Nehemiah refers to himself as your servant to show his submission to the king.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֲשֶׁ֧ר תִּשְׁלָחֵ֣⁠נִי אֶל־יְהוּדָ֗ה

(Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

Nehemiah is really asking for permission to go, rather than asking the king to send him. But as a sign of respect, he speaks as if the king would be taking the initiative. Alternate translation: [please allow me to go to Judah]

עִ֛יר קִבְר֥וֹת אֲבֹתַ֖⁠י

(a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my

This is similar to 2:3. Alternate translation: [the city where my ancestors are buried]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

וְ⁠אֶבְנֶֽ⁠נָּה

(Some words not found in UHB: and,I_said to/for=the_king if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found_favour servant_of,your to=your=face which/who you,will_send_me to/towards Yehuda to/towards (a)_city graves_of my_ancestors_of,my and,I,will_rebuild_it )

Nehemiah does not plan to do all of the building himself, but he will be the leader of the work. Alternate translation: [that I and my people may rebuild it]