abomination

The Hebrew that is translated as “abomination” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “hated thing” and in Kwere as zitibusa which means “evil” but also something that causes horror or disgust and revolts people. (Source for both: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

in Ngambay it is nékɔb or “taboo.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also detestable in the sight of God and holy.

complete verse (Ezekiel 36:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 36:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then you (plur.) will think of/remember every sin that you did and you will feel pain/bitterness over those sins.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then you will-remember your wicked ways and deeds, and you will-detest yourselves because of your sins and detestables deeds.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When that happens, you will think about your previous evil behavior and wicked deeds, and you will be very displeased with/hate yourselves for your sins and the detestable things that you did.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 36:31

After God returns his people to the land of Israel and blesses them spiritually and physically, they will remember their sins and be disgusted with themselves because of them. The connector Then introduces this result.

You will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good: Remember may be rendered “recall” (Revised English Bible) or “think about again.” For evil ways, compare verse 17. This phrase may be translated “evil conduct” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). Your deeds that were not good may be rendered “the wrongs that you committed” (Good News Translation) or “the sinful things you have done” (New International Reader’s Version). New Living Translation shortens this sentence, saying “you will remember your past sins,” which may be a helpful model for some languages.

And you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominable deeds: After recalling their past wickedness, the people will be very ashamed of what they did. For the Hebrew verb rendered loathe, see the comments on 20.43. This verb may be translated “be disgusted with” (Good News Translation), “hate” (Contemporary English Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version), or “despise” (New Living Translation). For the Hebrew word translated iniquities (“sins” in New Century Version), see the comments on 3.19. For the word rendered abominable deeds, see 5.9, where it is translated “abominations.” Christian Community Bible says “detestable practices,” and New Century Version has “terrible acts that I hate.” A model for this whole sentence is “and you will hate yourselves for the sins you committed and the terrible things you did that I hate.”

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 .