heap burning coals on their heads

The now commonly-used German idiom feurige Kohlen aufs Haupt sammeln used to express to make someone feel ashamed (literally meaning heap burning coals on someone’s head) was first coined in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 68)

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

drink

In Telugu different verbs for humans drinking (tāgu / తాగు) and animals drinking (cēḍu / చేడు) are required.

complete verse (Romans 12:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 12:20:

  • Uma: “So, follow the teaching of the Holy Book long ago that says: ‘If your (sing.) enemies are hungry, feed them. Or if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. If you (sing.) do like that, they will end up being ashamed.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But do as is said in the holy-book, ‘If you (happen-to-) see your enemy hungry, feed (him). If he is thirsty, cause (him) to drink. If you do this to him, he will finally be very ashamed.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Let us on the advice of the written word of God which says, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is dry, give him something to drink. For if this what you do, he will become very much ashamed because of his harm to you.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And you should not only do that but rather you should also follow what God caused-to-be-written which says, ‘If your (sing.) enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give-him-a-drink; because if you (sing.) do that, he will be extremely shamed.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Also it is written about the word God says ‘If you see that your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If you see that he is thirsty, give him water to drink. If you do to your enemy according to these works, then he will become ashamed, because there will come to his heart the evil he has done to you.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Proverbs 25:21 and Proverbs 25:22.

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on Romans 12:20

The introductory expressions instead, as the scripture says involve considerable ellipsis and these must be filled out in some languages—for example, “do not do that but do as the scripture says” or “instead of taking revenge do what the scripture says.” Since the phrase as the scripture says is added as an introduction to the direct quotation, some translators may not feel it necessary to have this type of introductory expression, particularly if the reference to Proverbs 25.21-22 is made clear in a marginal note.

The scripture reference in this verse comes from Proverbs 25.21-22. The imagery of the last clause in this verse is difficult, though all translations seem to prefer to retain the imagery rather than to change the metaphor into a non-metaphor. For by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head is perhaps best taken in the sense of “for by doing this you will make him ashamed.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .