18:13a
cinnamon: This word refers to a spice made from the inner bark of cinnamon trees. In some languages people are not familiar with cinnamon. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
spice called cinnamon
-or-
cinnamon spice
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. For example:
Cinnamon is a spice made from the inner bark of cinnamon trees.
spice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spice refers to the extract from a plant of India called amomum. This is probably the spice that is today called black cardamom.
In some languages people are not familiar with amomum or cardamom. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain that it is a spice. For example:
cardamom ⌊spice⌋
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This word refers to a spice which comes from a plant called amomum.
incense: The word incense refers to the dried sap of certain kinds of trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. Incense is often used as a part of worship.
In some languages people are not familiar with incense. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
⌊special tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋ burned to give/release a sweet smell
-or-
sweet smelling ⌊tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. For example:
Incense is the dried sap of certain trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. People often burned incense as part of their worship.
See how you translated this word in 5:8.
myrrh: The word myrrh refers to a product from the sap of the myrrh bush. People use it to make a highly valued ointment and perfume.
In some languages people are not familiar with myrrh. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
myrrh ⌊bush⌋ sap ⌊made into perfume⌋
-or-
sweet smelling ⌊bush⌋ sap ⌊called myrrh⌋
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Myrrh comes from the sap of the myrrh bush. People use it to make a highly valued ointment and perfume.
frankincense: The word frankincense refers to a product from the sap of several kinds of trees. People dry the sap, grind it into a powder, then burn it to make a good-smelling smoke. It can also be an ingredient in perfume.
In some languages people are not familiar with frankincense. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
⌊tree⌋ resin/sap burned for a sweet smell ⌊called frankincense⌋
-or-
sweet/good smelling ⌊tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called frankincense⌋
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Frankincense comes from the sap of several kinds of trees. People dry the sap and burn it during worship in order to make a sweet smelling smoke. Or they add it to perfume.
18:13b
wine: Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the juice of grapes. In some languages people are not familiar with wine. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain it in your translation. For example:
⌊alcoholic beverage of⌋ wine
-or-
⌊an alcoholic beverage made from grapes, called⌋ wine
• Use the name of the common alcoholic beverage in your area. You may then want a footnote to explain the literal word. For example:
Literally: “wine.”
See how you translated this word in 14:8 or 17:2.
olive oil: The olive is a small oval fruit. People squeeze the oil out of it. The oil is used as cooking oil and as fuel for lamps.
fine flour: The Greek word here refers to the best quality of flour. For example:
high quality flour
-or-
the best flour
wheat: The word wheat refers to a grain plant commonly grown in that part of the world. It was more expensive than barley. Poor people bought barley. So this word implies that the people of Babylon were wealthy.
18:13c
cattle: This word refers to large animals that were used for work. They carried loads, pulled plows, and did other hard work for people.
In some languages people are not familiar with cattle. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
strong/pulling animals
-or-
large farm/pack animals
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Cattle are large farm animals that can pull heavy loads. People eat their meat and drink their milk.
sheep: The word sheep refers to smaller farm animals. They usually stay in groups. They weigh 40 to 60 kilograms. They eat plants. Here people probably bought sheep for their wool and meat.
In some languages people are not familiar with sheep. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
woolly animals ⌊called sheep⌋
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This word refers to a medium-sized farm animal. People use their hair to make cloth and eat their meat.
horses: A horse is a large, four-legged animal that weighs 500 kilograms (1100 pounds) or more. They are about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high at their back. People ride horses.
In some languages people are not familiar with horses. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word in your translation. For example:
riding animals ⌊called horses⌋
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
A horse is a large animal that a person can ride. The person could direct the horse to go where he wanted.
See how you translated this word in 6:2 or 14:20.
chariots: This word refers to four-wheeled vehicles pulled by horses, like a “carriage.” The wheels were made of wood. The Greek word could refer to:
(1) Vehicles made to carry people comfortably. These chariots or “carriages” (New International Version (2011)) had seats and were usually covered to protect the people from rain.
(2) Vehicles made to carry heavy loads.
Use a word or phrase that refers to either one or both meanings.
18:13d
slaves and souls of men: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek words literally. There are two interpretation issues. These words can refer to people in general or to slaves. Also, they can refer to one group or two groups. The main interpretations are:
(1) The words refers to two groups of people. The word slaves refers to slaves. The phrase souls of men refers to another group of people. The second group might be prisoners of war. For example:
slaves, and even human lives (Good News Translation)
(2) The words refers to slaves as one group of people. It uses two similar phrases to emphasize the meaning. For example:
slaves, that is, human souls (Revised Standard Version)
The Berean Standard Bible is ambiguous. It is recommended that you also translate ambiguously, if possible. But if that is not possible, then follow option (1).
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