OET interlinear NUM 16:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הַ⁠מְעַ֣ט מִ⁠כֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְ⁠כֶם֙ מֵ⁠עֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְ⁠הַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְ⁠כֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑י⁠ו לַ⁠עֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְ⁠לַ⁠עֲמֹ֛ד לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָ⁠עֵדָ֖ה לְ⁠שָׁרְתָֽ⁠ם

[is,it_too]_small? for,you(pl) that/for/because/then/when separated god_of Yisrael ,you(pl) from,the_congregation_of Yisrael to,bring_near ,you(pl) to=him/it to,serve DOM work_of tabernacle_of YHWH and,to,stand to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the,congregation to,serve,them

Moses is using the question form to rebuke Korah for not being content with his role. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [You should not consider it small from you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel to present you to him to serve the service of the Dwelling of Yahweh and to stand to the face of the congregation to minister to them!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הַ⁠מְעַ֣ט מִ⁠כֶּ֗ם כִּֽי

[is,it_too]_small? for,you(pl) that/for/because/then/when

Moses is using Is it small from you as a common expression of his culture to mean “Do you consider it insignificant?” 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: [Do you consider it insignificant]

Note 3 topic: writing-poetry

לַ⁠עֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן

to,serve DOM work_of tabernacle_of

The author is using a construction in which a verb and its object come from the same root. You may be able to use the same construction in your language to express the meaning here. Alternatively, your language may have another way of saying this. Alternate translation: [to serve]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה

DOM work_of tabernacle_of YHWH

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of service, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [as the Dwelling of Yahweh needs to be served]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠לַ⁠עֲמֹ֛ד לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָ⁠עֵדָ֖ה

and,to,stand to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the,congregation

Here, Moses is speaking of the Levites serving in front of the congregation as if they were standing to the face of the congregation. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and to be ready to serve the congregation]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָ⁠עֵדָ֖ה

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the,congregation

Here, to the face of represents being in front of the congregation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [before the congregation]