OET interlinear NUM 18:23

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

וְ⁠הֵ֖ם יִשְׂא֣וּ עֲוֺנָ֑⁠ם

and,they bear iniquity_of,their

Here, the pronoun they refers to the Levites. The pronoun their could refer to: (1) the Levites again. In this case, the Levites are responsible for their own sins concerning the holy things. Alternate translation: [and the Levites shall bear their own iniquity] (2) the Israelites in general. In this case, the Levites are responsible for any sins concerning the holy things. Alternate translation: [and the Levites shall the iniquity of any Israelite]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יִשְׂא֣וּ עֲוֺנָ֑⁠ם

bear iniquity_of,their

Yahweh is using shall bear their iniquity as a common expression of the culture to mean “shall be responsible for the consequences of their offenses.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [shall be responsible for the consequences of their offenses]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עֲוֺנָ֑⁠ם

iniquity_of,their

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 they do wrong]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְ⁠דֹרֹ֣תֵי⁠כֶ֔ם

regulation_of perpetual to,generations_of,your(pl)

Yahweh is using a statute of eternity for your generations as a common expression of the culture to mean “a permanent rule for all your descendants.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [This is a permanent rule for all your descendants]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙

regulation_of perpetual

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of statute, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [This is a rule that will last forever]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

sons_of Yisrael

See how you translated the similar expression in [18:5](../18/5.md).

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

נַחֲלָֽה

inheritance

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of inheritance, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [any property]

Note 8 topic: writing-pronouns

וְ⁠עָבַ֨ד הַ⁠לֵּוִ֜י ה֗וּא

and,he_will_serve the,Levite[s] he/it

The pronoun he refers to any individual Levite, used collectively to represent all the Levites. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [And each Levite shall serve]