OET interlinear ZEP 3:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

הִכְרַ֣תִּי גוֹיִ֗ם נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙ פִּנּוֹתָ֔⁠ם הֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּי חֽוּצוֹתָ֖⁠ם

cut_off nations in_ruins strongholds_of,their laid_waste streets_of,their

This is the beginning of a direct quotation from Yahweh that continues through verse 13. You may wish to indicate that in your translation by using a natural way of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: “Yahweh has said, ‘I have cut off nations, their corners have been demolished; I have destroyed their streets’”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הִכְרַ֣תִּי גוֹיִ֗ם נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙ פִּנּוֹתָ֔⁠ם הֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּי חֽוּצוֹתָ֖⁠ם

cut_off nations in_ruins strongholds_of,their laid_waste streets_of,their

Yahweh is speaking as if he has done these things personally, but he means that the enemy army he has been describing throughout the book has done them. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “I have caused an enemy army to cut off nations, their corners have been demolished; that army has destroyed their streets”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הִכְרַ֣תִּי

cut_off

See how you translated the expression “cut off” in 1:3. Alternate translation: “I have destroyed” or “I have caused an enemy army to destroy”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙ פִּנּוֹתָ֔⁠ם

in_ruins strongholds_of,their

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: “I have demolished their corners” or “it has demolished their corners”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

פִּנּוֹתָ֔⁠ם

strongholds_of,their

See how you translated the word corners in 1:16. Alternate translation: “the high towers at the corners of their walls”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נִצְדּ֧וּ עָרֵי⁠הֶ֛ם

destroyed cities_of,their

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: “Their cities are in ruins”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

מִ⁠בְּלִי־אִ֖ישׁ מֵ⁠אֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב

from,no_of (a)_man from,no-one inhabitant

These two phrases mean similar things. Yahweh is using them together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “without a single person living there”