fast (verb)

The Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “fast” in English is translated in Isthmus Mixe as “going without food to worship God,” in Lacandon as “leaving eating in order to talk to God” (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.), in Vidunda as “resting to eat” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext), and in Kankanaey as “endure hunger” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation).

See also fast (Luke 5:33).

complete verse (Isaiah 58:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 58:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “You are fasting and quarrelling
    and fighting one another.
    If you continue to fast like how you are doing today
    your words will not be heard in heaven.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “On the day of fasting you have [just] finished quarrelling and quarrelling.
    And you beat one another in a bad way.
    By fasting like this
    it will not be possible to hope that your voice will be heard [lit.: will arrive] in heaven.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) truly fast, but you (plur.) fight and argue, and even punching-each-other. You (plur.) do not think that the fasting you (plur.) are-doing now can-help so-that I will-listen to your (plur.) prayers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You fast, but you also quarrel and fight with each other with your fists.
    Doing things like that while you fast will certainly not cause me to hear your prayers where I am, high in heaven.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 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).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Isaiah 58:4

In this verse the LORD continues to respond to the complaint of his people.

Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist: The theme of these two lines is similar to that of the last two lines of the previous verse. The people’s outward show of religious fasting does not match their conduct. They quarrel and fight with others and seek their own personal gain. For Behold see the previous verse. You fast only to quarrel and to fight is literally “you fast for dispute and strife.” The quarreling and fighting could be the purpose of their fasting, but it is more likely the result of it. As a result of going without food, these people fight and quarrel with others or among themselves. New International Version translates “Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife.” The quarreling even reaches the low point of physical violence, since they hit with wicked fist. The Hebrew adjective rendered wicked is best understood as describing a “vicious” attack (so Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high: The LORD gives his definitive judgment on the kind of fasting these people practice. Their fasting will not help make their prayers effective. God will not hear/accept their prayers in his dwelling place in heaven. This day does not refer to any particular day, but is a general reference to the time of fasting. Your voice may be rendered as “your prayers” (Good News Translation) or “your requests,” and on high as “in heaven.” Good News Translation uses a rhetorical question for these two lines, but Masoretic Text has a statement. Bible en français courant translates “When you fast like this, your prayer does not reach me.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Look, you fast but you then quarrel and fight,
beating others viciously!
The kind of fasting you do these days will not guarantee
that your request is heard on high.

• Look! You may fast but you also quarrel and fight,
you viciously beat others.
Your fasting at this time will not assure
that your prayer is heard by 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 .