OET interlinear ZEC 4:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

וְ⁠הוֹצִיא֙

and,he_will_bring_forth

The pronoun he refers to Zerubbabel. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [And Zerubbabel will bring out]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

חֵ֥ן חֵ֖ן לָֽ⁠הּ

graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty to/for=her/it

The angel is using a phrase that expresses a strong feeling, joy. There may be an equivalent word or phrase in your language that you can use in your translation to convey this feeling. If not, you could say what the angel was feeling, or you could say what caused him to feel joyful. Alternate translation: [What joy! Let joy be upon it!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חֵ֥ן חֵ֖ן

graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of grace, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [Blessed! Blessed!]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

חֵ֥ן

graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty

The angel is repeating forms grace in order to intensify his expression of the idea that it conveys. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the intensification. Alternate translation: [How favored indeed!]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

לָֽ⁠הּ

to/for=her/it

The pronoun it refers to the top stone or the temple. The angel is using the top stone to represent the completed temple. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [to the top stone] or [to the temple]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

מִֽי־אַתָּ֧ה הַֽר־הַ⁠גָּד֛וֹל לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל

who? you(ms) mountain_of (the),great to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before Zərubāⱱel

The angel is using the question form to emphasize that the mountain obstacle will be removed. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [You are nothing, great mountain, before Zerubbabel]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

תְּשֻׁא֕וֹת חֵ֥ן חֵ֖ן לָֽ⁠הּ

shouts graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty to/for=her/it

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [while people call out blessings on it]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִֽי־אַתָּ֧ה הַֽר־הַ⁠גָּד֛וֹל לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל לְ⁠מִישֹׁ֑ר

who? you(ms) mountain_of (the),great to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before Zərubāⱱel (into)_level,ground

Here the angel is speaking as if the great mountain were a person standing in the way. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [What are you, great obstacle, before Zerubbabel? You will no longer block him!]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / apostrophe

מִֽי־אַתָּ֧ה הַֽר־הַ⁠גָּד֛וֹל לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל לְ⁠מִישֹׁ֑ר

who? you(ms) mountain_of (the),great to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before Zərubāⱱel (into)_level,ground

The angel is speaking to the great mountain that he knows cannot hear him. He is doing this to communicate to the people listening to him that he feels very strongly about how the obstacles before Zerubbabel will be removed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these words as if the angel were speaking directly to the people about the mountain. Alternate translation: [Now about this great mountain in front of Zerubbabel, it will become a plain.]