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)

complete verse (Psalm 89:41)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 89:41:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “All who passes by snatch his things;
    he has become a taunt to his relatives.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “All who go from there plunder him,
    Coming, the neighbors ridicule him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The properties/possessions of his city were-taken by all who pass-by.
    He was-put-to-shame by his neighboring nations.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “People who walked there stole his things,
    people who were near laughed at him.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wasafiri wote wananyang’anya mali yake,
    amekuwa wa kuchekwa na jirani zake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “All those who pass by plunder/steal his possessions;
    his neighbors laugh at/ridicule him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 89:40 - 89:41

Jerusalem has been captured by the enemy and its defenses destroyed (verse 40). The land is open to neighboring peoples, who plunder it and mock the king and his people (verse 41). All of these misfortunes are God’s doing; and in the whole bitter narrative, not once is there any admission of sin which might account for God’s anger.

In verse 40a the word translated breached means to break through the walls, normally by destroying a section so as to gain entrance into the city through the break in the wall. Here, however, all his walls shows that the walls have been broken down completely; thus Good News Translation “You have torn down the walls of his city.” The same Hebrew word occurs in 80.12a, “broken down.” His walls (Good News Translation “walls of his city”) may have to be recast to say, for example, “the walls that protect his city.”

For translation notes on strongholds (Good News Translation “forts”) see 18.45, “fastnesses.”

All that pass by, verse 41, is the same expression as in 80.12b. Despoil means to take away everything that belongs to someone else, to plunder.

He has become the scorn of his neighbors resembles the scene pictured in 44.14; 79.4; 80.6. It would be better to translate neighbors as “all the neighboring peoples” or “the people of all the nearby nations….”

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 .