OET interlinear NUM 8:24

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

זֹ֖את אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַ⁠לְוִיִּ֑ם

this(f) which/who [is]_to,Levites

Yahweh is using This is what is for the Levites as a common expression of his culture to mean “Here is what the Levites should do.” 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: [Here is what the Levites should do]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מִ⁠בֶּן֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָ⁠מַ֔עְלָ⁠ה יָבוֹא֙

from,a_son_of five and=twenty year and,upward,upwards come

Yahweh is not referring to a specific Levite. He means Levites who meet this requirement in general. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use an expression that would be more natural in your language. Alternate translation: [From sons of 25 years and upward they shall come]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מִ⁠בֶּן֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָ⁠מַ֔עְלָ⁠ה יָבוֹא֙

from,a_son_of five and=twenty year and,upward,upwards come

The phrase from a son of 25 years is a common expression of this culture that means “from age 25” or “starting at 25 years old.” 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. See how you translated the similar phrase in [1:3](../01/03.md). Alternate translation: [Those who are 25 years old or older shall come] or [Those aged 25 and above shall come]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יָבוֹא֙ לִ⁠צְבֹ֣א

come to,serve

Yahweh is using come to fight as a common expression of this culture to mean “begin doing military service.” 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. See how you translated this phrase in [4:23](../04/23.md). Alternate translation: [he can fight]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠צְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א

to,serve service

Here, Yahweh is speaking of serving in the tabernacle as if it were fighting in the army. This metaphor implies dedication and discipline in service. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated this phrase in [4:23](../04/23.md). Alternate translation: [to be part of the group of workers]

Note 6 topic: writing-poetry

לִ⁠צְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א

to,serve service

Yahweh is using a construction in which a verb (fight) and its object (army) come from the same root. You may be able to use the same construction in your language to express the meaning here. Alternatively, your language may have another way of saying this. Alternate translation: [to be in the army]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בַּ⁠עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל

in,the_service_of tent/house

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of service, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [to serve at]