Language-specific Insights

maidens without number

The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone tayetaye in Song of Songs 6:8 to describe a “teeming multitude” (“the king also has young women beyond counting”. (Source: Ernst Wendland)

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

the poor

The Hebrew that is translated as “the poor” in English is translated in Chichewa as “people without power.” In Chichewa context this refers to those who are in the lower class in terms of both social status and political influence in a community. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth

The Hebrew in Psalm 119:43 that is translated as “do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as “do not remove the words of truth in my mouth.” The word that has been translated as “remove” is “kwatula“. In Chichewa, this word has the sense of removing something by force and at an unexpected time. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

devout

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The Greek that is often translated in English as “devout” (or “pious”) is translated in various ways:

  • Lalana Chinantec: “[people who] revere God”
  • Chichimeca-Jonaz: “[people who] obey and worship God”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “[people who] remember God”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “worshipers of God”
  • Tzotzil: “[people who] are zealously doing what they think is God’s word”
  • Mezquital Otomi: “[people who] very much believe what they have been taught about God” (source for this and five above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Chichewa interconfessional translation, publ. 1999: “[people who] love God” (source: Wendland 1998, p. 90)
  • Uma: “[people who] submit to Lord God” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “very religious” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “[people who] are faithful in carrying out the commands of God” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “[people who] are serving God” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “[people who] are indeed devout-worshipers of God” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “[people who] respect God” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “[people who] have dedicated themselves to God” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • German: “God-fearing” (gottesfürchtig) or “pious” (fromm)
  • Low German translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006: “[people who] take their faith very seriously” (source for this and above: Zetzsche)
  • Hausa Common Language Bible: “owners of worshiping God” (source: Hausa Common Language Bible Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “godly” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

See also righteous / righteousness.

in your anger

The Hebrew in Psalm 38:1 that is translated as “in your anger” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with the idiom mutapsa mtima, lit. “when your heart has burnt.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

why should I be like one who is veiled

The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) translates this phrase as “why should I be left wandering all around” and uses the ideophone zunguliruzunguliru in Song of Songs 1:7. Zunguliruzunguliru is a reduplication of zungulira (“go around in circles”) and is used for the notion of aimless circling or restlessly drifting. It conveys embarrassment and vulnerability (“left roaming about like a stray girl”) as well as confusion. (Source: Ernst Wendland)

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

your neck is like an ivory tower

The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone see in Song of Songs 7:4 to describe the notion of long, straight, smooth, and elegant (“your neck stands tall and straight like an ivory tower”). (Source: Ernst Wendland)

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

See also your kisses go down smoothly and your nose is like a tower of Lebanon.

abide in your tent

The Hebrew in Psalm 15:1 that is translated as “abide in your tent” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as “live in your holy place.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)