The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English means “father of honor,” “father of majesty,” “father of praise,” or “my father is majesty.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in American Sign Language with a sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here ). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Canaan” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “inherit land” in various forms in English is translated in Kwere as “take land to be their own” or similar in these verses when Israel or a part of Israel “inherits” land from God. In Kwere, uhazi or “inheritance,” as in possessions etc. can only be received upon someone’s death. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 16:18:
Kupsabiny: “He said, ‘I give you (plur.) the land of Canaan, to become yours.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “I will give you the land of Canaan. It will be your own property.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “He said to each of them, ‘I will-give to you (sing.) the land of Canaan as your (sing.) inheritance and your (sing.) descendants.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “What he said was, ‘I will give the Canaan region to you, to belong to you and your descendants forever.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.
The Hebrew infinitive translated saying is found at the beginning of this verse, as reflected in Revised Standard Version. This will probably be the most natural place for it in most languages although Good News Translation has placed it in the middle of the quotation.
To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance: In the Hebrew text the pronoun you is singular, but the pronoun your is plural. Perhaps this means that in verse 17 “Jacob” refers to the patriarch and “Israel” refers to the people of Israel. If this interpretation is followed, then verse 17 may be translated “With a law the LORD confirmed his promises to Jacob, and made an eternal covenant with the people of Israel” (similarly New Living Translation).
The Hebrew word translated portion suggests something that has been measured out, a part of something larger. The idea of this verse is that while God has given other nations separate pieces of land, Canaan would be the part that would belong to Israel. The meaning is clearly expressed in Revised English Bible with “I shall give you the land of Canaan … as your allotted holding.” In many languages inheritance is something a person receives when a parent dies. Here the sense is that God gives the land of Canaan to the people of Israel, without any suggestion that anyone has died.
While Contemporary English Version‘s rendering of verses 16-18 is perhaps too concise, it certainly sums up the meaning: “16 God made an eternal promise 17 to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 18 when he said, ‘I’ll give you the land of Canaan.’ ”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
16:18 ‘I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.’
⌊God said⌋ , ‘I will give the land of Canaan to you(plur) as the part you will inherit.’ -or-
He told them that he would give them the land of Canaan. He said that it would belong to them.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.