The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “idol(s)” in English is translated in Central Subanen as ledawan or “images.” (Source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )
In German, typically the term Götze is used. Originally this was used as a term of endearment for Gott (“God” — see here ), later for “icon” and “image, likeness.” Luther started to use it in the 16th century in the meaning of “false god, idol.”
Other terms that are used in German include Götzenbild(er) (“image[s] of idols”) or Bildnis (“image” — Protestant) / Kultbild (“cultish image” — Catholic) (used for instance in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8). The latest revision of the Catholic Einheitsübersetzung (publ. 2016) also uses the neologism Nichtse (“nothings”) in 1 Chron. 16:26 and Psalm 96:5. (Source: Zetzsche)
The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are often translated as “worship” (also, “kneel down” or “bow down”) are likewise translated in other languages in certain categories, including those based on physical activity, those which incorporate some element of “speaking” or “declaring,” and those which specify some type of mental activity.
Following is a list of (back-) translations (click or tap for details):
Obolo: itọtọbọ ebum: “express reverence and devotion” (source: Enene Enene)
Ngäbere: “cut oneself down before” (“This figure of speech comes from the picture of towering mahoganies in the forest which, under the woodman’s ax, quiver, waver, and then in solemn, thunderous crashing bury their lofty heads in the upstretched arms of the surrounding forest. This is the experience of every true worshiper who sees ‘the Lord, high and lifted up.’ Our own unworthiness brings us low. As the Valientes say, ‘we cut ourselves down before’ His presence. Our heads, which have been carried high in self-confidence, sink lower and lower in worship.)
Tzeltal: “end oneself before God.” (“Only by coming to the end of oneself can one truly worship. The animist worships his deities in the hope of receiving corresponding benefits, and some pagans in Christendom think that church attendance is a guarantee of success in this life and good luck in the future. But God has never set a price on worship except the price that we must pay, namely, ‘coming to the end of ourselves.'”) (Source of this and the one above: Nida 1952, p. 163)
Folopa: “die under God” (“an idiom that roughly back-translates “dying under God” which means lifting up his name and praising him and to acknowledge by everything one does and thanks that God is superior.”) (Source: Anderson / Moore, p. 202)
Chokwe: kuivayila — “rub something on” (“When anyone goes into the presence of a king or other superior, according to native law and custom the inferior gets down on the ground, takes a little earth in the fingers of his right hand, rubs it on his own body, and then claps his hands in homage and the greeting of friendship. It is a token of veneration, of homage, of extreme gratitude for some favor received. It is also a recognition of kingship, lordship, and a prostrating of oneself in its presence. Yet it simply is the applicative form of ‘to rub something on oneself’, this form of the verb giving the value of ‘because of.’ Thus in God’s presence as king and Lord we metaphorically rub dirt on ourselves, thus acknowledging Him for what He really is and what He has done for us.”) (Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff. )
In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:
For Mark 15:19 and Matt. 2:8 and 2:11: “uh’idma-rrama llia’ara” — “to kiss the fingernail and lick the heel”
For Acts 16:14: ra’uli-rawedi — “to praise-talk about”
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 2:8:
Kupsabiny: “Idols that are being worshipped have filled their land. They worship/bow to things that their hands have formed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Their land is simply full of idols, they worship idols [they] have made with their own hands.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They have many little-gods. They worship these things which they only made.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
It is not clear if the previous verse refers to something positive or negative, but here it clearly mentions a negative situation as in verse 6. The prophet criticizes Israel for making idols of the false gods of foreigners and worshiping them.
Their land is filled with idols: Their land is filled with repeats the first part of the pattern in verse 7 (see the comments there). However, this verse does not repeat the second part of the pattern: “there is no end to.” The Hebrew word for idols comes from a root meaning “worthless” (see Job 13.4 and Zech 11.17, where Revised Standard Version renders it this way). In the later part of this book, where there are several attacks upon idols and idol worshipers, the Hebrew term is not the same as that used here. However, translators may use the same term throughout the book. There is also a play-on-words here since the Hebrew word for idols is ʾelilim, which has an obvious link to ʾel, a general word for God or god. “Worthless images” or “useless images” is an acceptable translation for idols, but if this is a difficult expression and if the receptor language has a general term for “idols,” it can be used here.
They bow down to the work of their hands: Bow down is a figurative expression describing the act of worshiping. The aspect of this verse is habitual, describing something the people often do. It may be rendered “continually bow down” Bow down serves as the verb for the following line as well. The work of their hands refers to something they have made with their own hands.
To what their own fingers have made is parallel to the previous line. The parallelism emphasizes the foolishness of those who are treating as an object of worship something they themselves have made. The clear implication is that this activity is wrong and despicable. Good News Translation has dropped the parallel reference to fingers, but this weakens the impact of Isaiah’s words somewhat.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• Their land is full of worthless images;
they worship what they have made,
objects shaped by their own fingers.
• Worthless images fill the land;
they worship things they themselves have made,
objects made by their own hands.
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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