complete verse (Isaiah 32:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 32:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “Never again shall a fool be called trustworthy/good
    or a stupid person be said to be honorable.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “People who are fools will never again be honorable people,
    nor will those who keep on doing evil work be honored.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The crazy-ones will- no-longer -be-called nobles, and the deceiver-ones will- no-longer -be-respected.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 32:5

Under the new regime fools and villains will no longer receive honor.

The fool will no more be called noble: The Hebrew word for fool refers to someone who acts in disgraceful and unwise ways, such as not fearing Yahweh, refusing to follow the teachings of the wise, and showing disrespect for parents (see Psa 14.1; Pro 17.21). It does not refer to a person who is mentally ill. If there is danger of confusion, translators may say “unwise.” The Hebrew adjective for noble is used as the opposite of fool. It describes a person who is honorable in mind and character. He is dignified and gracious in all he does since he lives by the teachings of the wise. The fool is a collective expression, so it may be made plural (see the examples below). Noble here does not refer to a person belonging to a class of society called the nobility (compare 13.2). The prophet is anticipating a time when fools will no longer be treated as though their actions and words have great value.

Nor the knave said to be honorable is parallel to the previous line. The Hebrew word for knave refers to someone who acts without scruples and takes advantage of others, especially those who are defenseless such as widows and orphans. It may be rendered “scoundrel” (Good News Translation, New International Version), “villain” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), “rascal” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “trickster” (New American Bible). The knave is another collective expression, so it may also be made plural (see the examples below). The Hebrew word for honorable has the same sense as noble here. New Jerusalem Bible renders noble and honorable as “generous” and “bountiful” respectively. There is some support for this in the context of verses 6 and 7 (which mention the hungry, thirsty, poor and needy), but we prefer the sense of “honorable” for both terms as in Wisdom literature.

The verbs in both lines are passive. For those languages that require active verbs here, see the second example below. Translation suggestions for this verse are:

• Fools will no longer be called noble people,
nor will scoundrels be referred to as honorable.

• People will no longer consider fools to be noble,
nor will they regard villains as honorable.

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 .