OET interlinear NUM 3:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

וַ⁠יָּ֣מָת נָדָ֣ב וַ⁠אֲבִיה֣וּא

and=he/it_died Nādāⱱ and,Abihu

If it would be more natural in your language, you may want to put the words “and Abihu” before the word “died.” Alternate translation: [But Nadab and Abihu died]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֡ה & לִ⁠פְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH & to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH

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

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֵ֨שׁ זָרָ֜ה

fire unauthorized

Here, strange fire represents burning coals that were not authorized for use in worship, as indicated in the account of this event in [Leviticus 10:1](../lev/10/01.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [strange coals that were on fire]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֵ֨שׁ זָרָ֜ה

fire unauthorized

Here, the author is speaking of fire that was not authorized as if it were strange or foreign. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [unauthorized fire]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠בָנִ֖ים לֹא־הָי֣וּ לָ⁠הֶ֑ם

and,sons not they_were to/for=them

The author is using sons were not to them as a common expression of his culture to mean “they had no sons.” 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: [and they had no sons]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וַ⁠יְכַהֵ֤ן אֶלְעָזָר֙ וְ⁠אִ֣יתָמָ֔ר

and,he_served_as_priest ʼElˊāzār and,Ithamar

The word And here 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: [As a result, only Eleazar served as priest and Ithamar]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

וַ⁠יְכַהֵ֤ן אֶלְעָזָר֙ וְ⁠אִ֣יתָמָ֔ר

and,he_served_as_priest ʼElˊāzār and,Ithamar

If it would be more natural in your language, you may want to put the information about Eleazar and Ithamar together by saying that they both served as priests. Alternate translation: [And Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

עַל־פְּנֵ֖י אַהֲרֹ֥ן

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in face/surface_of ʼAhₐron

The author is using against the face of as a common expression of his culture to mean “under the supervision of.” 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: [under the supervision of Aaron]