“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)
In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCEM, p. 70)
Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).
Both the Hebrew and Greek names are probably general terms for gazelle. At least two types of gazelle the Dorcas Gazelle Gazella dorcas and the Palestine or Arabian Gazelle Gazella arabica were found in the Middle East. They are still to be found in secluded areas.
Gazelles are small to medium sized plains antelopes, inhabiting savannah plains and semideserts. Both sexes have horns, except for the female impala, which is without horns. The horns of the gazelle species mentioned above are lyre-shaped about 25-50 centimeters (10-20 inches) in length. Gazelles are reddish brown with almost white underparts. They are long-legged and graceful and are expert jumpers. They live in small herds of up to about thirty. Females become sexually active at one year and bear young every year. This high rate of reproduction ensures their survival. They feed on both grass and the leaves of acacia and other bushes.
A breeding herd consists of one dominant breeding male and a group of females. The other males are chased from the herd when they become sexually active and they then form bachelor herds. These bachelor herds are the prime target for human and animal hunters since they provide a convenient source of meat while leaving the breeding cycle intact. In biblical times gazelles were trapped in nets or snares or were shot with bows and arrows.
The gazelle was seen as the cleanest of game animals since it met all the requirements of the Law concerning cloven hooves and cud-chewing. It was also a symbol of speed grace and beauty (the Hebrew root means beauty) and of female sexuality and fertility.
Where a language distinguishes between male and female animals, tsvi should be translated by the male form and tsviyah by the female form.
In East Africa where gazelles are well-known, a generic word for gazelles or the specific word for one of the smaller gazelles, such as the Thompson’s Gazelle Gazella thompsonii, is suitable. Elsewhere in Africa where the impala is known, the word for this antelope can be used.
Elsewhere, the word for a small antelope or deer that lives in herds can be used for the references that are literal, and the word for some swift, graceful antelope or deer can be used in the contexts where speed, grace, or beauty are being symbolized. As usual, in areas where gazelles, antelopes, and deer are unknown, a transliteration from the dominant international language or from the Hebrew original can be used. In such cases a description should be given in the glossary.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 13:14:
Kupsabiny: “Every person shall flee from country like an antelope that flees from the hunters. Everyone shall run away from his people like sheep that have no shepherd.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “They, like a hunted [lit.: pursued] deer, and like sheep that have no shepherd, all the people will return to their own people, and all the people will run away, each to his own place.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The foreigners in Babilonia will-flee going-back to each of their place like a deer being-pursued. They will-go-home like a sheep without a shepherd.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “And all the foreigners in Babylon will run around like deer that are being hunted, like sheep that do not have a shepherd. They will try to find other people from their countries, and then they will escape from Babylon and return to their own countries.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The prophet moves from a cosmic image to one in which the people of Babylon compared to frightened animals. The scene of helpless animals scattering symbolizes chaos and the presence of danger. Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have a different interpretation (see below).
And like a hunted gazelle is a simile. The gazelle is a member of the antelope family. A gazelle is described here as it darts away in an attempt to escape hunters. In cultures where gazelles are unknown, it is possible to use a general expression, such as “[wild] animal.” Translators should not substitute the name of another animal, especially if that animal is unknown in the Bible.
Or like sheep with none to gather them: This second simile is a common biblical picture and signifies a lack of leadership and the chaos that results. We may say “they are like sheep that have no one to guard them” or “… take care of them.” For sheep see 7.21.
Every man will turn to his own people: Every man means “every person” in this context. This line has to be seen in the context of the fearful events of divine punishment. People will turn to one another, especially to members of their family and clan, for help and comfort in such fearful times.
Every man will flee to his own land is parallel to the previous line. The last two lines could mean that foreigners living in the stricken nation will flee that country when they see the disaster unfolding, and return to their homeland. This is made explicit in Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and hinted at in Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, and Bible en français courant. But this could be taking the poetic imagery here too literally. The picture could simply be that of desperately frightened people trying to find a place to which they can escape. The land could be the countryside, or their farms. They want to avoid God’s punishing action, in this case brought by an enemy invasion. Both interpretations are acceptable. Those who favor the interpretation followed by Good News Translation can suggest it subtly by rendering turn as “return” and flee as “flee back.”
The last two lines are the main clauses of the verse. Some languages will prefer to put them at the beginning, and follow them with the two comparisons. This is what Good News Translation does; see also the third example below.
For the translation of this verse we suggest:
• Like a gazelle escaping the hunter, like sheep with nobody to round them up, people will turn to one another; they will flee to their land.
• Like a hunted deer and scattered sheep, foreigners will return to their own people; they will flee back to their own country.
• People will turn to one another; they will flee to their land like a gazelle escaping from a hunter or like sheep with nobody leading them.
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 .
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