OET interlinear NUM 3:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

וַ⁠אֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה לָקַ֣חְתִּי

and,I see/lo/see! taken

Yahweh is stating the pronoun I separately, even though the verb translated as I have taken already includes this meaning. He is doing that to emphasize that he is the one who has chosen the Levites. If a speaker of your language would use an explicit pronoun for the same purpose, you may want to use that construction in your translation. If not, your language may have other ways of showing that emphasis. Alternate translation: [And behold, I am the one who has taken]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הִנֵּ֧ה

see/lo/see!

Yahweh is using the term behold to focus his listeners’ attention on what he is about to say. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: [listen]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וַ⁠אֲנִ֞י & לָקַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֗ם מִ⁠תּוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י

and,I & taken DOM the,Levites from,among_of sons_of

Here, Yahweh is speaking as if choosing the Levites were actually taking them from the midst of the sons of Israel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I … have selected the Levites from]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠אֲנִ֞י & לָקַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֗ם

and,I & taken DOM the,Levites

The implication is that Yahweh has taken the Levites to serve him at the tent of meeting. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [I … have taken the Levites to minister to me in the tent of meeting]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

בְּכ֛וֹר פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם

firstborn open_of womb

It might seem that the expression firstborn, the opener of the womb contains extra information that would not be natural to express in your language. If so, you can shorten it. Alternate translation: [firstborn]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בְּכ֛וֹר

firstborn

Here and throughout the chapter, the implication is that firstborn refers specifically to firstborn males. See the chapter introduction for more information. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [firstborn male]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם

open_of womb

Yahweh is using the opener of the womb as a common expression of the culture to mean “first child to be born to a woman.” 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: [the first child of every woman]

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וְ⁠הָ֥יוּ לִ֖⁠י הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם

and=they_will_be to=me the,Levites

The word and indicates that what follows is a result of what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a result of what came before. Alternate translation: [and as a result, the Levites shall be for me]