OET interlinear NEH 4:23

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

וְ⁠אֵ֨ין

(və⁠ʼēyn)

In this verse Nehemiah is describing something else that was also true of the conditions in Jerusalem during the time period he is describing. You can make this clear in your translation with an appropriate connecting word or phrase. Alternate translation: “At that time, neither”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠אַחַ֣⁠י

(və⁠ʼaḩa⁠y)

Here brother likely refers to Nehemiah’s close relatives. Elsewhere in the book he indicates that his brother Hanani lived in the city and that his relatives ate with him at the governor’s table (1:2, 5:14, 7:2). Alternate translation: “nor my relatives”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠נְעָרַ֗⁠י

(ū⁠nəˊāra⁠y)

As in 4:16, this means “my servants.”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

וְ⁠אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַ⁠מִּשְׁמָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַחֲרַ֔⁠י

(və⁠ʼanshēy ha⁠mmishmār ʼₐsher ʼaḩₐra⁠y)

This likely refers to the personal bodyguard that the king would have assigned to Nehemiah when he appointed him to be the governor of Judah. (Nehemiah describes this appointment in 5:14.) Alternate translation: “my personal bodyguard”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

אִ֖ישׁ שִׁלְח֥⁠וֹ הַ⁠מָּֽיִם

(ʼiysh shilḩ⁠ō ha⁠mmāyim)

Here the specific meaning of the Hebrew text is unknown, but Nehemiah is almost certainly leaving out some of the words that a sentence would normally have to have in order to be complete. He says that he and his relatives, servants, and bodyguards did not take off their clothes, or anyone his weapon at the water. This could mean that “no one took his weapon off even when he was washing himself” or that “no one took his weapon off even when going to get water.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could explain what “at the water” might mean, you could choose one of these possibilities. Alternate translation: “Each of us always had our weapons with us, even when we were washing ourselves.”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

פֹשְׁטִ֖ים בְּגָדֵ֑י⁠נוּ אִ֖ישׁ שִׁלְח֥⁠וֹ

(foshţim bəgādēy⁠nū ʼiysh shilḩ⁠ō)

In this context, a man means anyone.