birds of the air

The Greek and Hebrew phrases that are often translated as “birds of the air” in English “refer to the undomesticated song birds or wild birds, to be distinguished in a number of languages from domesticated fowl. In Tzeltal these former are ‘field birds’.” (source: Bratcher / Nida)

Q’anjob’al also uses an established term for non-domesticated birds. Newberry and Kittie Cox (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ) explain: “Qʼanjobʼal has two distinct terms, one to identify domesticated birds and the other non-domesticated birds. The additional descriptive phrase ‘of the air’ seemed entirely misleading, for Qʼanjobʼal speakers had never heard of such creatures. Actually, of course, all that was necessary was the term for non-domesticated birds, for that is precisely the meaning of the Biblical expression.”

In Elhomwe they are just translated as “birds” or “birds of the bush” (i.e., wild birds) to “not give the impression that these are special type of birds.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also birds of the air / fish of the sea and birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

complete verse (Daniel 4:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 4:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “That tree, oh king, which had beautiful leaves and yielded a lot of fruits which were enough to feed people of the whole earth and the animals that stayed under its shade, and the birds building their nests on its branches, is you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit was enough for everyone in the world to eat. Wild animals lived under that enormous tree and birds lived in nests in its branches.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “its leaves were beautiful and its fruits were plenty that can-feed everyone/all, where the animals sought-shelter-in-its-shade and the birds built- their -nest on its branches,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “It had beautiful leaves and it had produced a lot of fruit for people to eat. Wild animals rested in the shade of that tree, and birds built nests in its branches.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 4:21

This verse is almost a word-for-word repetition of verse 12 above. However, in place of the verb rendered found shade in verse 12, this verse actually has a more general word meaning “to live” or “to rest” for the beasts. And for the birds, instead of dwelt this verse has a term of slightly different meaning. Note that New Revised Standard Version translates the verb in verse 12 “were fed,” while the verb in this verse is rendered “had nests.” The same sort of meaning difference is distinguished in New International Version. It may or may not be possible to reflect these shades of meaning in the translation. But if it is possible to do so naturally, then it should be done.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .