LORD God / Lord God

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “Lord God” or “Lord God” encountered an issue in Tok Pisin. Norm Mundhenk explains why (in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 442ff. ):

“I am not aware of any serious objections to either the word God [for “God”] or Bikpela [for YHWH] alone. However, when trying to translate the expression ‘the Lord God,’ the translators first tried to use Bikpela God. But Bikpela is also an adjective meaning ‘big’ and in the expression Bikpela God, it would usually be understood as “Big God,’ as though there were other smaller gods around also.

“In the Old Testament, as the recent articles have clearly pointed out, the English word ‘Lord‘ often stands for the Hebrew name of God, YHWH, which is usually spelled these days as Yahweh. With this in mind, the name Yawe was tried in Tok Pisin, but it was felt that most readers did not connect this strange name with God. Eventually, we decided to keep Bikpela, but to translate ‘Lord God’ as God, Bikpela, literally ‘God, the Lord.’

“The reason for this decision was really only that the words could be used naturally in this order, without the problem of giving a wrong meaning which we had when putting Bikpela first. It was not until some people asked if it was right to ‘turn around’ the name and the title in this way that we realized that there was really a deeper reason for doing what we did. In fact, for most speakers of Tok Pisin, God is the only God they know, and it seems likely that God is understood as the personal name of God, rather than as a class name. Bikpela, on the other hand, is a class name — there can be more than one Bikpela, though it is recognized that God is the greatest of them and there is no confusion when he is referred to simply as Bikpela. Thus, in Hebrew an expression like ‘YHWH, the God of Israel,’ has the personal name first, followed by the class name explaining who he is. And we have exactly the same situation in Tok Pisin when we say God, Bikpela bilong Isrel. I suspect that in many other languages which have borrowed the word ‘God,’ we might find that it has been borrowed basically as a personal name, rather than as a class name.”

complete verse (Ezekiel 21:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 21:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “And if they ask you, ‘What are you groaning for?’ tell them, ‘There are things that are coming. People will fear and hands sink, hope will be lost and knees paralyzed.’ The day has arrived and these things shall come to pass! It is the God of power who has spoken.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If they ask why you are-groaning, tell them because of the news which can-cause-trembling, can-cause-weakening, can-cause-to-become-afraid and can-cause- them -to-faint. These things will- surely -happen in not a-long-time. I, the Lord GOD, (am) the-(one) saying this.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ tell them, ‘Because of the news that they soon will hear. Everyone will be very fearful , and their knees will become as weak as water. A great disaster will soon occur. That is what Yahweh the Lord is promising.’’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 21:7

And when they say to you, ‘Why do you sigh?’: These clauses show that the reason for Ezekiel’s sighing was to attract the attention of the people. Because the people ask a question, many translations use the verb “ask” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) instead of say. In many languages translators will use indirect speech here, as in “And when they ask you why you sigh” (similarly Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

You shall say, ‘Because of the tidings. When it comes…’: God then gives Ezekiel the answer to the people’s question. Good News Translation begins the answer with “it is because of the news that is coming,” which translates the Hebrew better than Revised Standard Version‘s rendering. God does not say what the news is, nor is it clear if the news has already come. Some translations imply that Ezekiel has already heard it; for example, New Century Version says “Because of what I have heard is going to happen” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation, New English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). However, others suggest that Ezekiel is still waiting to hear the news; for example, New International Version and New American Standard Bible say “Because of the news that is coming” (similarly Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible). The Hebrew here can have either meaning.

Every heart will melt and all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water: Whether or not Ezekiel knows exactly what the news is, it is clearly “terrifying news” (Contemporary English Version). This is clear from the results it will cause when the people hear it. These results will be emotional and mental distress, and physical reactions of terror. Every heart will melt and every spirit will faint are figurative expressions for being full of fear and totally losing courage. For all hands will be feeble and all knees will be weak as water, see 7.17. Many languages have idioms that express extreme fear in terms of the reactions of bodily organs and, where appropriate, these may be used. Otherwise, nonfigurative language may be used, for example, “everyone will be very frightened.” Translators must choose expressions that show great fear.

Behold, it comes and it will be fulfilled: Once again, the attention-getting Hebrew particle hinneh rendered Behold provides emphasis for an important saying (see Ezek 21.3). It comes means the news will come soon, and it will be fulfilled means the events that the news describes will certainly happen. This whole sentence may be rendered “See, it will soon be time for the news to come, and when we get the news, it is going to happen.”

Says the Lord GOD is a solemn declaration or pronouncement that emphasizes the importance of God’s words here (see 5.11). Lord renders the Hebrew word ʾadonai, and GOD renders “Yahweh” (YHWH in Hebrew), the name of God.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .