vindicate

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The Hebrew that is translated in English as “vindicate (me)” or “judge (me favorably)” is translated in these ways:

  • Kupsabiny: “declare me righteous” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “show everyone that I have no guilt” (source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “prove that I do not have sin” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru: “request you say for other people to know I don’t have any sin” (source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim: “say that I am blameless” (source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Hausa: “show that I am lacking fault” (source: Hausa Common Language Bible Back Translation)
  • Mandarin Chinese / German: “give me justice” (Source: Zetzsche)
  • English Translation for Translators: “show that I am innocent/have not done what is wrong” / Easy English Bible: “show that I am not guilty of wrong things”

See also vindicated.

complete verse (Isaiah 50:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 50:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “The one who tells me that I am righteous is near.
    Is there anyone who will accuse me in court?
    Let us both go to the council hall.
    Who has a problem with me?
    Let us meet in court.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The one who makes me have no guilt is near me.
    So will anyone, by doing opposition, accuse me?
    Let us come face to face!
    Who is the one who opposes me?
    Let him come before me!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The God who reveals that I am innocent is near to me. So who will-dare to accuse me? Show himself and face me!” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “God, the one who vindicates me, is near to me;
    so if anyone stands in front of me and accuses me in a court,
    he will not be able to show that I have done anything that is wrong.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (chikaku ni ite)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, chikaku ni ite (近くにいて) or “be near” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Isaiah 50:8

Here the servant expresses further his confidence in the future. He uses rhetorical questions to challenge any who would oppose him. The vocabulary in the verse is borrowed from the language of the law courts: vindicate, contend, stand up (meaning “be involved in legal action”), adversary, and come near to (meaning “initiate proceedings against”). The servant challenges his opponents as someone would in a law court.

He who vindicates me is near: The servant is full of confidence for the future, because God who vindicates him is near. To vindicate means to declare someone not guilty or to declare him or her “just/right.” The notion that God is near or standing alongside a person is a figurative way of saying that God supports the person (compare Psa 69.18; 73.28). Revised English Bible translates this line as “One who will clear my name is at my side.” A model based on Revised English Bible is “God will clear my name; he is at my side.” Good News Translation reverses the ideas of “vindication” and “being near,” and makes “God” explicit, saying “for God is near and he will prove me innocent.” Like Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation also links this line with the previous one at the end of verse 7 as the reason why the servant knows he will not be put to shame. However, most versions consulted begin a new sentence with verse 8.

In the last four lines of this verse there are two rhetorical questions (Who…?) that each have a rejoinder (Let …).

Who will contend with me?: With this first question the servant challenges anyone who would bring a legal case or a complaint against him. The Hebrew verb rendered contend is the legal term for making a formal complaint against someone (see the comments on 3.13). Good News Translation spells it out by rendering this question as “Does anyone dare bring charges against me?” Bible en français courant has “Who will dare to take me to court?” and New Jerusalem Bible translates “Who will bring a case against me?” The implied response to this rhetorical question is that nobody would dare to do it. In languages that do not favor the use of such questions, an emphatic statement may be used; for example, “[I am sure that] nobody will lodge a complaint/case/charge against me [or, dare take me to court].”

With the rejoinder Let us stand up together, the servant expands on the challenge expressed in the preceding rhetorical question. This clause reflects another courtroom situation, referring to taking part in legal proceedings. The Hebrew verb for stand up was used in a similar courtroom context in 44.11 (see the comments there). For this line Bible en français courant has “Let him appear with me before a judge!” New Jerusalem Bible is similar with “Let us appear in court together!” and so is Good News Translation with “Let us go to court together!” The courtroom language is more indirect in Revised English Bible, which reads “Let us confront one another,” and also in New International Version with “Let us face each other!” Another possible model is “If there is someone, let us go to court together!”

Who is my adversary? is very similar in meaning to the first question. The Hebrew phrase rendered my adversary is literally “master of my justice.” It refers to someone who is involved in a legal judgment, here with the sense of “my accuser” (New International Version) or “my opponent” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For this question Bible en français courant has “Who wants to be my opponent?” New Jerusalem Bible translates “Who has a case against me?” which is very similar to its first question. An alternative model that uses an emphatic statement is “Nobody can accuse me!”

Let him come near to me again expands on the preceding rhetorical question. It is a further challenge to the adversary. However, come near to is not just a matter of coming close to a person, since the Hebrew expression here also has legal significance. It can mean “take legal action against” someone. For this line Revised English Bible has “Let him come forward,” and New International Version says “Let him confront me!” Bible en français courant translates “Let him present himself in front of me!” Another possible model is “Let him face me in court!”

Since the two rhetorical questions are very similar in meaning, Good News Translation combines them into one: “Does anyone dare bring charges against me?” The rejoinders then follow each other without interruption: “Let us go to court together! Let him bring his accusation!”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• The one who declares me just is by my side.
Who then will make a complaint against me?
Let us go to court!
Who would accuse me?
Let him make a claim against me!

• He who declares me innocent is with me.
None can make a complaint against me!
Let us go to court together—
no one can accuse me,
but let them try to make a case against me.

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 .