fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Isaiah 17:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 17:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “God has said that,
    ‘A day is coming
    when the greatness of the Israelites is no longer there.
    Their wealth will be lost,
    and replaced by poverty.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “On that day the glory of Israel will be lost.
    and the fat of its body will become less. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘When- that day -will-come, the greatness of Israel will- now -be-stopped, and her richness will-be-changed into poverty.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 17:4

Good News Translation begins this verse with “The LORD said.” See the comments on Isa 17.1.

In that day: See the comments on 2.11 and 7.18. Here this phrase refers to the time when God will act against Syria and Israel. It may be rendered “At that time” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) or “Then.”

The glory of Jacob will be brought low: Here Jacob refers to the northern kingdom of Israel (see the comments on 9.8). Since the glory of Jacob is parallel with the fat of his flesh, it means “Israel’s prosperity” in this context (in contrast to the previous verse). Good News Translation says “Israel’s greatness.” The Hebrew verb rendered will be brought low comes from a root meaning “be low” or “be poor.” Here it means “will be made insignificant.” In languages that do not have the passive voice, this line may be rendered “Yahweh will take away Israel’s glory.” However, it is better to use an active verb here without mentioning Yahweh as the agent; for example, Good News Translation has “Israel’s greatness will come to an end.” See the third model below for another example.

And the fat of his flesh will grow lean refers to a fat person becoming thin. Fat in Hebrew culture has positive connotations. It can describe an abundance of produce (Gen 27.28). The fat of his flesh is used figuratively for the wealth of the Israelites. Will grow lean means their wealth will decrease greatly. Good News Translation has a good model here. Revised English Bible is also helpful with “and his prosperity [will] waste away.” Contemporary English Version keeps some of the body imagery with “its prosperous people will be skin and bones.” Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch keep it fully by rendering the Hebrew word for glory in the previous line according to its basic meaning, “weight.” For this whole verse Bible en français courant has “On that day, Israel will not weigh much, it will lose its stoutness,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “At that time Jacob will lose so much weight, that only skin and bones remain.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• On that day Yahweh will remove the things on which Jacob prides itself, and its prosperity will waste away.

• In that day those things of which Jacob is so proud will be reduced and Jacob’s abundance will be taken away.

• On that day Jacob’s honor will fade and its fatness waste away.

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 .