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 ).

Translation commentary on 3 Maccabees 3:24

Therefore, fully convinced by these indications that they are ill-disposed toward us in every way: The connector Therefore may also be rendered “So.” Fully convinced by these indications means the Jewish actions convince the king that nothing he can do is ever going to make them appreciate him. They are ill-disposed toward us in every way means they will be always against him, or have contempt for him. A possible model here is “So I am convinced by all this that the Jews have nothing but contempt [or, bad feelings] toward us.”

We have taken precautions lest, if a sudden disorder should later arise against us, we should have these impious people behind our backs as traitors and barbarous enemies: We have taken precautions lest … may be expressed as “We have thus come up with a plan….” The king is leading up to announcing his order to kill all the Jews, by introducing it as a national security measure. He has taken precautions against a situation where Egypt is attacked by enemies, and has to fight knowing that the Jews, who are also enemies of Egypt, are a danger from behind. In the model below, we have taken precautions is moved to the end of the verse. If a sudden disorder should later arise against us means the Jews are the ones who will arise and cause a sudden disorder. So we may render this clause as “If these people should suddenly rebel against us.” We should have these impious people behind our backs as traitors and barbarous enemies says almost the same thing as the previous clause. The two clauses may be combined.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• So I am convinced by all this that the Jews have nothing but contempt [or, bad feelings] for us. What would happen if these enemies should suddenly attack us [or, Egypt] and we have to deal with these traitors, these uncivilized enemies of ours, at the same time? To guard against this, I have a plan.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.