OET interlinear NUM 1:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠אִתְּ⁠כֶ֣ם

and,with,you(pl)

The implication is that these men will be helping Moses and Aaron with the task of counting the people. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [To assist you in this task] or [Working together with you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / youdual

וְ⁠אִתְּ⁠כֶ֣ם

and,with,you(pl)

Since Yahweh is speaking to both Moses and Aaron, the form of you would be dual here, if your language uses that form. Otherwise, the word would be plural.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יִהְי֔וּ אִ֥ישׁ

be (a)_man

Here, the phrase will be is plural, but man is singular. The implication is that one man from each tribe will assist Moses and Aaron. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [must each be represented by one man] or [will each send one man]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אִ֖ישׁ לַ⁠מַּטֶּ֑ה

(a)_man to,tribe

Yahweh is using the possessive form to describe a man who belongs to each tribe. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [a man who represents each tribe] or [a man who belongs to each tribe]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אִ֛ישׁ רֹ֥אשׁ

(a)_man head

Here, Yahweh is speaking as if the tribal leader were the head of a body. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the chief leader] or [the principal leader]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְ⁠בֵית

of,the_house_of

Here, house means all the people descended from a particular person. It envisions them as if they were one household living together. So the house of the ancestors figuratively means all the people descended from the tribal patriarchs. Alternate translation: [from the clan] or [from the extended family]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֲבֹתָ֖י⁠ו

his_fathers_of,his

Yahweh is using the term fathers to mean “ancestors.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of his ancestors] or [of his forefathers]