justice

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “justice” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that describes the quality or principle of fairness, righteousness, and impartiality in treating other people. A literal back-translation of the signs are “FOLLOW(God is implied) ACTIONS, DECISIONS JUST-RIGHT”. A more idiomatic back-translation would be: “actions and decisions are right/fitting/just in accordance to God’s will.” The movement in the signs itself helps to indicate that this is a noun, not a verb. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Justice” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

widow

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “widow” in English is translated in West Kewa as ona wasa or “woman shadow” (source: Karl J. Franklin in Notes on Translation 70/1978, pp. 13ff.) and in Newari as “husband already died ones” or “ones who have no husband” (source: Newari Back Translation).

The etymological meaning of the Hebrew almanah (אַלְמָנָה) is likely “pain, ache,” the Greek chéra (χήρα) is likely “to leave behind,” “abandon,” and the English widow (as well as related terms in languages such as Dutch, German, Sanskrit, Welsh, or Persian) is “to separate,” “divide” (source: Wiktionary).

See also widows.

complete verse (Isaiah 10:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 10:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “(They) prevent/withhold the weak from the truth,
    and take from them what they deserve.
    (They) eat the things of widows
    and take the things of the poor/orphans.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “to suppress the poor and to plunder
    [their] rights [and] not to do justice for the good of my people
    and [to] those whose husbands have died and to plunder the property of those
    who have no father or mother they have been doing like this.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) are-to-be-pitied who make not right laws which oppress my poor people, and neglect their rights and take-away justice from them. Through these laws also you take-away the properties of the widows and parentless.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 10:2

This verse consists of four clauses that spell out the purpose behind the framing of the unjust laws just mentioned. The purpose of these laws is that those who make them can take advantage of the poor and needy, the widows and orphans, that is, those in the community who require special help. These purpose clauses should be marked, so that their function is clear. Sometimes an introductory expression can help; for example, translators may begin the verse with “They do so in order to…” or “They issue these laws so that they….”

To turn aside the needy from justice: The verb turn aside refers to refusing or rejecting people. The Hebrew word translated justice is a legal term referring to judgment or right. The judges refuse to help the needy, who require help in court cases. They take advantage of the weakness of those in need.

To rob the poor of my people of their right is parallel and nearly synonymous with the previous line. Israel’s laws were meant to protect those in need, especially the poor. Hence, all citizens had certain legal rights, and even foreigners in Israel were protected legally. The Hebrew word for right is actually the term for (fair) judgment. Those who prepare unjust decrees and laws also do it to rob the poor of that right to justice.

That widows may be their spoil is also a purpose clause even though Revised Standard Version gives the impression it is a result clause. A woman whose husband was alive would have rights and protection through him, but a widow in Israel was only barely protected by law. She had to depend upon family and community support to obtain justice. This line accuses the judges of taking advantage of the widows as though they were spoil. Spoil refers to the things gained as a result of defeating others (see 3.14, where it renders a different Hebrew word; see also 8.4; 9.3). The term is applied metaphorically here to the action of the unjust judges taking advantage of defenseless people.

That they may make the fatherless their prey is literally “and the fatherless they prey upon.” This line is parallel to the previous one. For fatherless see 1.17. A prey is something singled out for attack or plunder.

For the translation of this verse we may say:

• … in order to deny justice to those in need, to take away the rights of the poor, to rob widows, and to prey upon the orphans.

• … so that they can deny justice to the needy and refuse the poor their right to justice, to plunder widows goods, and to take advantage of orphans.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .