OET interlinear NUM 24:17

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

אֶרְאֶ֨⁠נּוּ֙

I,see_him

The pronoun him refers to a future ruler who will come from Israel. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [I see the future ruler]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִֽ⁠יַּעֲקֹ֗ב

come_out star from,Jacob

Here Balaam is speaking of a future ruler who will come from Israel as if he were a star. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [A great ruler has come from Jacob]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִֽ⁠יַּעֲקֹ֗ב וְ⁠קָ֥ם שֵׁ֨בֶט֙ מִ⁠יִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

come_out star from,Jacob and,it_will_arise scepter from,Israel

Balaam is describing a future event as if it had already happened. He speaks this way to show that the event will certainly take place. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the future tense to express this.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

פַּאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב

forehead_of Mōʼāⱱ

The word translated as edges could refer to: (1) the edges of a face, or the forehead. The forehead of Moab is a figurative description of the leaders of Moab. Alternate translation: [the forehead of Moab] or [the leaders of Moab] (2) the borders of the territory of Moab. In this case, the phrase refers to all the territory of Moab, from one edge to another. Alternate translation: [all the borders of Moab]

Note 5 topic: translate-alternativereadings

וְ⁠קַרְקַ֖ר

and,it_will_destroy

The phrase and destroyed is a translation of the standard written Hebrew text as we have it today. This reading, however, is rare and difficult. You may want to follow an alternative reading that scholars have proposed, or you may want to follow the major translation in your area. Alternate translation: [and the skull of]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠קָ֥ם שֵׁ֨בֶט֙ מִ⁠יִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

and,it_will_arise scepter from,Israel

Here Balaam is speaking of a future ruler who will come from Israel as if he were a scepter. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and a ruler has risen from Israel]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פַּאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב

forehead_of Mōʼāⱱ

Here, the edges of Moab represents “all the territory of Moab.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [all the territory of Moab]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּנֵי שֵֽׁת

(Some words not found in UHB: I,see_him and=not now I,observe_him and=not near come_out star from,Jacob and,it_will_arise scepter from,Israel and,it_will_smash forehead_of Mōʼāⱱ and,it_will_destroy all/each/any/every sons_of Shet/Seth )

Balaam is speaking as if the people descended from Seth were actually his sons. Alternate translation: [Seth’s descendants]