neighbor - relative

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” or “relative” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) and the Buku Lopatulika translation (1922/2018) with just one word: nansi. This word can also be translated as neighbors whom you share a blood relation with because in Chewa context a community is mostly comprised of people of blood relations. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Ps 79:4)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translations both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding the Lord.

complete verse (Psalm 79:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 79:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “We are a contemptible thing to our relatives,
    a laughing stock and a deriding (thing) to those who have surrounded us.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The neighboring nations are ridiculing us.
    Mocking us they are laughing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “We (excl.) are-put-to-shame and mocked by our (excl.) surrounding nations.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The neighboring nations insult us,
    and people laughed at us.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Majirani zetu wanatudharau,
    ambao wametuzunguka, wanatudhihaki na kututania.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The people-groups that live in countries that surround our land insult us;
    they laugh at us and deride/belittle us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 79:3 - 79:4

The slaughter was so terrible that “blood flowed like water” in Jerusalem. Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version begin verse 3 with They, which may be slightly ambiguous due to the references in verse 2 to the vultures and wild animals. The referents in verse 3 should be clear: They have refers to the enemies; their blood refers to the Israelites, and them are the dead Israelites. In languages where the degree of ambiguity would be increased, it will be better to begin verse 3 with the noun subject.

Round about Jerusalem does not mean outside the city but all through the city. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “through all Jerusalem.” Good News Translation has repeated the simile “like water” in connection with the killing of the people and its location in Jerusalem. This is not necessary. If the expression poured out … blood or “shed … blood” has the wrong meaning, it will be better to say “they have killed the people all around Jerusalem.” If the simile is to be kept, one may say, for example, “the blood of the dead has flowed like water in Jerusalem.”

Verse 3c emphasizes again the fact that so many Israelites were slaughtered that there were hardly any survivors to bury the dead.

Verse 4 is practically identical with 44.13, except that here God is not specifically the one who caused the mocking. Our neighbors are the surrounding heathen nations, often translated as “the other tribes” or “the tribes around us who do not worship God.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .