OET interlinear PRO 27:17

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ⁠בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

iron in/on/at/with,iron sharpens and,man sharpens face/surface_of his/its=neighbour

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what he says in the second clause to what he says in the first clause. In the same way that Iron sharpens against iron, a man sharpens the face of his neighbor. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Iron sharpens against iron; similarly, a man sharpens the face of his neighbor”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ⁠בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

iron in/on/at/with,iron sharpens and,man sharpens face/surface_of his/its=neighbour

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “A man sharpens the face of his neighbor as iron sharpens against iron”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ & רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

and,man & his/its=neighbour

Although a man and his are masculine, Solomon is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “and a person … that person’s neighbor”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יַ֣חַד

sharpens

Here Solomon uses sharpens to refer to developing or improving someone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “helps to improve”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פְּנֵֽי

face/surface_of

Here Solomon uses face to refer to a person’s character or how a person thinks. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the character of”