OET interlinear NUM 14:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

לוּ־מַ֨תְנוּ֙ בְּ⁠אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּ⁠מִּדְבָּ֥ר הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ

if_only died in=land Miʦrayim/(Egypt) or in,wilderness the=this would_that died

The Israelites are using a phrase that expresses a strong feeling, hopelessness and despair. There may be an equivalent word or phrase in your language that you can use in your translation to convey this feeling. If not, you could say what the Israelites were feeling, or you could say what made them sad. Alternate translation: [It would have been better for us to die in the land of Egypt! It would be better for us to die in this wilderness!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

לוּ־מַ֨תְנוּ֙ בְּ⁠אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּ⁠מִּדְבָּ֥ר הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ

if_only died in=land Miʦrayim/(Egypt) or in,wilderness the=this would_that died

It might seem that the expression if only we died contains extra information that would not be natural to express in your language. If so, you could shorten it. Alternate translation: [If only we died in the land of Egypt or in this wilderness!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

מַ֨תְנוּ֙ & מָֽתְנוּ

died & died

By we, the Israelites mean to include themselves but not Moses and Aaron to whom they are speaking, so use the exclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction.