OET interlinear 1SA 18:25

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

כֹּֽה־תֹאמְר֣וּ לְ⁠דָוִ֗ד אֵֽין־חֵ֤פֶץ לַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ בְּ⁠מֹ֔הַר כִּ֗י בְּ⁠מֵאָה֙ עָרְל֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים לְ⁠הִנָּקֵ֖ם בְּ⁠אֹיְבֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ

thus say to,David not desires to/for=the_king in/on/at/with,bride-price that/for/because/then/when in/on/at/with,a_hundred foreskins_of Pelishtim to,take_revenge in/on/at/with,enemies_of the=king

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [Tell David that the king does not desire any bride-price except for a hundred foreskins of Philistines, to be avenged against his enemies]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

אֵֽין־חֵ֤פֶץ לַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ בְּ⁠מֹ֔הַר כִּ֗י בְּ⁠מֵאָה֙ עָרְל֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים

not desires to/for=the_king in/on/at/with,bride-price that/for/because/then/when in/on/at/with,a_hundred foreskins_of Pelishtim

If it would appear in your language that Saul was making a statement and then contradicting it, you could reword this as a positive statement. Alternate translation: [The only bride-price that the king desires is a hundred foreskins of Philistines]

Note 3 topic: translate-symaction

כִּ֗י בְּ⁠מֵאָה֙ עָרְל֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים

that/for/because/then/when in/on/at/with,a_hundred foreskins_of Pelishtim

As [17:54](../17/54.md) shows, the usual trophy from a defeated enemy’s body was the head. Saul’s different requirement of a hundred foreskins of Philistines had both practical and symbolic significance. Since Israelite men were circumcised but Philistine men were not, this requirement ensured that David could not bring back the heads of slain Israelites and claim they were Philistines. Beyond that, as [14:6](../14/06.md), [17:26](../17/26.md), and [17:36](../17/36.md) show, Israelites used the word “uncircumcised” as a derogatory term indicating that the Philistines did not worship Yahweh and did not obey his laws. So bringing back their foreskins as war trophies would symbolically show that Saul was being avenged on these enemies who were also hostile to Yahweh. (Saul tells David in [18:17](../18/17.md) that he is sending him out to fight “the battles of Yahweh.”) Alternate translation: [except that you kill a hundred Philistines and bring back their foreskins to prove that it was indeed these uncircumcised heathen whom you killed]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

לְ⁠הִנָּקֵ֖ם

to,take_revenge

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [so that he may get revenge]

Note 5 topic: writing-politeness

בְּ⁠אֹיְבֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ

in/on/at/with,enemies_of the=king

As he tells his men what to say to David, Saul anticipates that they will refer to him respectfully by his royal title. Depending on the conventions of your own culture, it may be possible to convey the same meaning with a simple pronoun. Alternate translation: [against his enemies]

Note 6 topic: writing-background

וְ⁠שָׁא֣וּל חָשַׁ֔ב לְ⁠הַפִּ֥יל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּ⁠יַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים

and,Saul planned to,fall DOM Dāvid in/on/at/with,hand_of Pelishtim

The author is providing background information to help readers understand Saul’s true motives. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לְ⁠הַפִּ֥יל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּ⁠יַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים

to,fall DOM Dāvid in/on/at/with,hand_of Pelishtim

The author is using the term hand by association to mean the power and action of the Philistines. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [that this would enable the Philistines to make David fall]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לְ⁠הַפִּ֥יל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד

to,fall DOM Dāvid

See how you translated the similar expression in [4:10](../04/10.md). Alternate translation: [to make David die] or [to kill David]