The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 46:4:
Kupsabiny: “Even though you get old, I still guard you. I shall help you even when your hair has become grey. I made you and I shall take care of you, I have helped you and I shall rescue you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Even until the time you become an old man [whose] hair becomes white, the one who cares for you, I am the same. I have made you so I will carry you. I will support you and save you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Even if you (plur.) are now old and have-gray-hair, I the one-who-will-look-after you (plur.). I have-made you (plur.) and I will- surely -take-care of you (plur.). I will-help you (plur.) and save (you).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
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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).
In this verse the Hebrew text uses the independent pronoun I five times in combination with first person singular affixes on the verbs. God is making an emphatic declaration here of what he personally has done and will do for his people.
Even to your old age I am He reminds the people that the LORD’s relationship with them as their God is permanent and unchanging, however old the nation may become. For I am He, see the comments on 41.4. This whole line may be rendered “I will be your God even when you are old.”
And to gray hairs I will carry you is parallel to the previous line. God speaks to the nation as though it is an individual growing old and whose hair is turning gray. He promises here that he will support them forever. The Hebrew word rendered gray hairs can also mean “old age.” Revised English Bible and Bible en français courant say “white hairs.” There is a wordplay here since the Hebrew word for gray hairs is sebah and the word for “captivity” in verse 2 is shebi. Yahweh is hinting that he will support his people even while they are in exile. The Hebrew verb rendered carry differs from the one in the previous verse, but it has the same sense of support here.
I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save: I have made emphasizes again that God formed the Israelites into a nation (see 43.7; 44.2). I will bear and I will carry highlight that he will help them. The Hebrew verb rendered bear is the same one translated “carry” in verse 1 and “carried” in verse 3, while the verb for carry is the same one as in the second line. Will save emphasizes that God will rescue his people. The Hebrew verb for save is the same one used in verse 2. There is a contrast here between Yahweh and the Babylonian gods. The idols representing these gods have to be carried (verse 1) and the gods cannot save the idols (verse 2), but Yahweh will carry his people and save them.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• I am He who will carry you even when you are old
and your hair has turned white.
I created you, and I will support you,
I will carry you and rescue you.
• Even when you grow old and your hair is white,
I will be the one who supports you.
I made you, and I will sustain you,
I will support you and rescue you.
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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