rainbow / bow

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “bow” or “rainbow” is translated in Yagaria with a term — fugigina — that is also used as a term for “glory.” (Source: Renck, p. 94)

In Maltese it is translated with qawsalla, literally “bow of God” and in Southern Samo as “snake up above” (source: Lynell Zogbo).

Translation commentary on Sirach 43:11

Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it: In Hebrew “rainbow” and “bow” (the weapon) are the same word. Although Greek has a separate word for “rainbow,” the text here uses the word for the weapon. The imagery is carried through in the next verse. Rainbow is certainly the obvious choice for translators. Good News Translation renders him who made it as “its Creator.” For the whole line it has “Look at the rainbow and praise its Creator!”

Exceedingly beautiful in its brightness: Good News Translation effectively expresses this as an exclamation. Another possible model is “Its beauty is magnificent and radiant.”

Contemporary English Version keeps the poetic form of the verse as follows:

• Look at the rainbow,
bright and beautiful,
and praise its Creator.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.