OET interlinear NUM 14:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

יְהוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ & לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה

YHWH slow_of & not leave_the_guilty_unpunished

Yahweh is speaking of himself in the third person as Yahweh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: [I, Yahweh, am … I will not leave unpunished]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙

slow_of anger

The phrase long of nostrils is a common expression of this culture that means “slow to anger” or “patient.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [slow to anger] or [patient]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְ⁠רַב־חֶ֔סֶד

and,great_of steadfast_love

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of covenant faithfulness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and completely faithful to his promises]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֖ן וָ⁠פָ֑שַׁע

lifting/taking iniquity and,transgression

Here, Yahweh is speaking of forgiving sins as if a person were lifting up a heavy object and taking it away. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [granting forgiveness for]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עָוֺ֖ן וָ⁠פָ֑שַׁע

iniquity and,transgression

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of iniquity and transgression, you could express the same ideas in other ways. Alternate translation: [what people do that is evil and that breaks my laws]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

וְ⁠נַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה

and,certainly_(leave_unpunished) not leave_the_guilty_unpunished

Yahweh is repeating forms of the verb leave unpunished 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: [But he will definitely not leave unpunished]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה

not leave_the_guilty_unpunished

Here, Yahweh could be implying that he will not leave unpunished: (1) a different group of people than the ones he forgives. Alternate translation: [he will not leave other people unpunished] (2) the same group of people he forgives, who will receive some punishment despite being forgiven. Alternate translation: [he will not leave them completely unpunished]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֺ֤ן אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְ⁠עַל־רִבֵּעִֽים

visiting iniquity_of fathers on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in sons on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in third and,on fourth

Here, Yahweh is speaking of passing down the consequences of sin as if it were visiting iniquity upon later generations. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [making iniquity of fathers apply to sons, to thirds, and to fourths]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עֲוֺ֤ן אָבוֹת֙

iniquity_of fathers

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of iniquity, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what fathers did that was evil]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

עָוֺ֖ן

iniquity

Here, iniquity represents the punishment for wrongdoing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the punishment for iniquity]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְ⁠עַל־רִבֵּעִֽים

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in third and,on fourth

Yahweh assumes that readers will know that thirds and fourths refer to the third and fourth generations of descendants. You could say that explicitly if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [upon the people of the third generation, and upon the people of the fourth generation]