sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 4:2

Gentlemen, are not men strongest, who rule over land and sea and all that is in them?: The second guard uses this question to introduce his topic. It is a rhetorical question, so it may be rendered as a statement (so Good News Bible). For Gentlemen see the comments on 1 Esd 3.18. Men refers to human beings in general. For the idea of strongest in this context, see the comments on 1 Esd 3.5. For who rule over land and sea and all that is in them, compare Gen 1.26, 28. An alternative model for this verse is:

• “Honored sirs, do [or, will] you not agree that human beings, who dominate [or, rule over] everything on land and in the sea, are the most powerful of all forces?

Since the speaker is not giving his answer here, but only leading up to the answer in verse 3, another possible model is:

• “Honored sirs, you may at first think that human beings are the most powerful of all forces, since they dominate everything else in the world.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.