“know something is true because of seeing it” in Teutila Cuicatec (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
“ones who will confirm that these-things that you have seen are true” in Kankanaey (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
“ones who are to testify about these things, because it all happened before your eyes” in Tagbanwa (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 44:8:
Kupsabiny: “Please, do (plur.) not tremble, do not be afraid! Have I not told you (plur.) from old times what is going to happen ahead? You are my witnesses! Is there any other God apart from me? There is no other who guards you apart from me, and I do not know any other protector for you.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “From long ago until now haven’t I told you everything that would happen? So do not be afraid or tremble with fear. You are my witnesses. What! Except for me, is there any other God? No, there is no other rock, not one!"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) do- not -be-afraid or be-nervous. Did- I not -let-known from the time-past my purpose on you (plur.)? You (plur.) yourselves are my witnesses. Is there other God besides me? None at-all! I know nothing of a rock that protects aside from me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
God now addresses his people in exile, who are his witnesses. He assures them again that there is no need to be afraid since he will provide them safety like a rock.
Fear not, nor be afraid: God comforts his people by telling them not to be afraid. The Hebrew verb rendered Fear is not the same one used in verse 2. It comes from a root that means “be terrified” (see the comments on this verb at 12.2 and 19.17). It refers to intense fear. The Hebrew verb translated be afraid (yarah) only occurs here in the Old Testament. The context requires the sense of being afraid. Dead Sea Scrolls has the same Hebrew verb for “fear” (yaraʾ) here as in verse 2. Good News Translation combines the two synonymous verbs in this line, saying “Do not be afraid,” which loses the emphasis here. Good News Translation also makes the addressees clear by adding “my people,” which is helpful. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar with “you people of Israel.”
Have I not told you from of old and declared it?: This is a rhetorical question in which God affirms strongly that he has predicted events accurately. As in the previous line, he uses two synonymous verbs to make a strong statement. The verb told is literally “caused to hear.” The Hebrew verb for declared occurred twice in the previous verse, where it is rendered “declare” and “tell.” The phrase from of old is literally “from then.” New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible say “long ago,” while Good News Translation has “from ancient times until now.” Good News Translation adds “until now,” which is implied here. The pronoun it refers back to “the things to come” in the previous verse. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “all that would happen.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar with “what now happens.”
And you are my witnesses!: God reminds his people that they are witnesses of his accurate predictions of events (see 43.10, 12).
Is there a God besides me?: This is another rhetorical question. Yahweh makes a strong statement that there is no other god besides him (compare verse 6). We note that Revised Standard Version uses God while Good News Translation has “god.” It is better to use the generic word “god” rather than God, because God leaves the possibility that other gods exist (see also the comments on 45.5).
There is no Rock; I know not any: Yahweh responds emphatically to his own question here, making it very clear that he is the only God. There is no Rock means there is no powerful god besides himself. He refers to himself as a Rock, which is a typical metaphor for protection (see the comments on 17.10). I know not any emphasizes the previous statement. Yahweh does not know of any other powerful gods since they do not exist. He is the only one on whom people can rely.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• My people, do not be afraid or scared.
Did I not announce and tell you long ago what would happen?
You are my witnesses.
Is there any god besides me?
No, there is no other ‘Rock’ known.”
• Fear not, do not be scared.
I announced and declared to you long ago what would take place.
You are witnesses of that!
There is no other god than me;
there is no other ‘Rock.’
That I know!”
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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