OET interlinear NUM 11:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

הָ⁠עָם֙ כְּ⁠מִתְאֹ֣נְנִ֔ים רַ֖ע בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה

the,people like,[those_who]_complain evil in,the_ears_of YHWH

The point of this comparison is that just as those complaining speaks of people who make complaints, so the Israelites were actually doing this in the ears of Yahweh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [the people complained of evil in the ears of Yahweh]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כְּ⁠מִתְאֹ֣נְנִ֔ים רַ֖ע בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה

like,[those_who]_complain evil in,the_ears_of YHWH

Here, the word evil could go with: (1) complaining as its object. Alternate translation: [like those complaining about evil in the ears of Yahweh] (2) in the ears of Yahweh. Alternate translation: [like those complaining, and it was evil in the ears of Yahweh] (3) complaining as a descriptor. Alternate translation: [like those complaining bitterly in the ears of Yahweh]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כְּ⁠מִתְאֹ֣נְנִ֔ים רַ֖ע

like,[those_who]_complain evil

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of evil, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [like those complaining that things were evil]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַ⁠יִּשְׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ וַ⁠יִּ֣חַר אַפּ֔⁠וֹ

in,the_ears_of YHWH and=he/it_listened YHWH and=it_glowed/burnt anger_of,his

It might seem that the expression in the ears of Yahweh contains extra information that would not be natural to express in your language. If so, you could shorten it. Alternate translation: [while Yahweh heard, and his nose burned]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה

in,the_ears_of YHWH

The phrase in the ears of Yahweh means in Yahweh’s hearing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [while Yahweh could hear]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וַ⁠יִּ֣חַר אַפּ֔⁠וֹ

and=it_glowed/burnt anger_of,his

The phrase his nose burned is a common expression of this culture that means that Yahweh is angry. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and his anger burned] or [and he was enraged]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠תִּבְעַר־בָּ⁠ם֙ אֵ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה וַ⁠תֹּ֖אכַל בִּ⁠קְצֵ֥ה הַֽ⁠מַּחֲנֶֽה

and,it_burned among,them fire_of YHWH and=she/it_ate in,the_outskirt[s]_of of,the_camp

Here, the author could be implying that: (1) the fire burned the edges of the camp but did not kill anyone. Alternate translation: [and the fire of Yahweh burned among then, and it ate tents and belongings at the edges of the camp] (2) the fire burned in the camp near its edges and did kill some people. Alternate translation: [and the fire of Yahweh burned among them, and it ate some people at the edges of the camp]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וַ⁠תִּבְעַר & אֵ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה

and,it_burned & fire_of YHWH

The author is using the possessive form to describe a fire that was sent by Yahweh. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and the fire that Yahweh sent]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וַ⁠תֹּ֖אכַל

and=she/it_ate

The author is speaking of fire as if it were a living thing that could eat or devour things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and it ravaged]