OET interlinear ZEC 11:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-poetry

הֵילֵ֤ל & הֵילִ֨ילוּ֙

wail & wail

The word translated as wail copies the sound of crying or howling. Zechariah uses this word here, and a similar word about lions in verse 3, to make the scene sound sad and urgent, like people weeping and lions roaring. If your language has a word that sounds like crying, use it here. If not, choose words that still sound emotional and urgent, not calm or formal.

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

בְּרוֹשׁ֙

cypress

The word cypress refers to a tall evergreen tree, but its exact identification is uncertain; other translations render it as “fir,” “pine,” or “juniper.” If your readers would not be familiar with this kind of tree, you could use the name of a similar tall, valuable evergreen tree that they would recognize, or you could use a more general term, such as “large evergreen tree.” Alternate translation: [fir tree] or [pine tree]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֵילֵ֤ל בְּרוֹשׁ֙

wail (Some words not found in UHB: wail cypress that/for/because/then/when fallen cedar which/who glorious ruined wail oaks_of Bāshān that/for/because/then/when come_down forest_of (the),inaccessible )

Here Zechariah is speaking of the cypress trees as if they were a person who could wail. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Cry out, cypress, like a mourner] or [Cypress, be greatly distressed]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

הֵילֵ֤ל בְּרוֹשׁ֙ כִּֽי נָ֣פַל אֶ֔רֶז אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַדִּרִ֖ים שֻׁדָּ֑דוּ הֵילִ֨ילוּ֙ אַלּוֹנֵ֣י בָשָׁ֔ן כִּ֥י יָרַ֖ד יַ֥עַר ה⁠בצור

wail cypress that/for/because/then/when fallen cedar which/who glorious ruined wail oaks_of Bāshān that/for/because/then/when come_down forest_of (the),inaccessible

The word translated as for indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [Because the cedar has fallen, wail, cypress, since the majestic ones have been devastated! Because the fortified forest has gone down, wail, oaks of Bashan]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נָ֣פַל אֶ֔רֶז

fallen cedar

Zechariah is speaking of powerful rulers as if they were a cedar tree that had fallen. A cedar was one of the tallest, strongest trees in that area, so a fallen cedar pictures a powerful ruler who has lost his power. The text does not say exactly which ruler or nation this is, so keep your translation general instead of naming a specific person or place. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the powerful rulers have been overthrown]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

אַדִּרִ֖ים שֻׁדָּ֑דוּ

glorious ruined

The expression have been devastated is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [enemies have devastated the majestic ones]

Note 7 topic: translate-textvariants

יַ֥עַר ה⁠בצור

forest_of (the),inaccessible

The word translated as fortified has a similar spelling to the word for vintage/grape harvest. Some ancient manuscripts and versions read this as “the forest of the vintage,” apparently confusing the two similar words. The ULT and UST follow the reading “the fortified forest” (i.e., an inaccessible or lofty forest), which matches the word form actually present here. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT. Alternate translation: [the forest of the vintage has come down]