enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 8:23

May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at sea and on land for ever: This introduction to the treaty states the wish that there should never be an occasion to turn to the actual terms of the treaty. Good News Bible translates it well, saying “May things go well forever for the Romans and for the Jewish nation on land and sea!” However, Goldstein’s translation may be a bit better: “Forever may there be peace between the Romans and the nation of the Jews on sea and land!”

And may sword and enemy be far from them: The word sword refers to “war” (Good News Bible). Another model for this clause is “May they never have enemies or have to go to war!”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.