The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “idol(s)” in English is translated in Central Subanen as ledawan or “images.” (Source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )
In German, typically the term Götze is used. Originally this was used as a term of endearment for Gott (“God” — see here ), later for “icon” and “image, likeness.” Luther started to use it in the 16th century in the meaning of “false god, idol.”
Other terms that are used in German include Götzenbild(er) (“image[s] of idols”) or Bildnis (“image” — Protestant) / Kultbild (“cultish image” — Catholic) (used for instance in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8). The latest revision of the Catholic Einheitsübersetzung (publ. 2016) also uses the neologism Nichtse (“nothings”) in 1 Chron. 16:26 and Psalm 96:5. (Source: Zetzsche)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:21:
Uma: “My children, be careful that you not worship lords that are not true.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “My children-grandchildren, don’t make-into-God anything other than the true God. Wassalam” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My children, avoid worshipping anything which is not the true God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “My children whom I love, be sure to distance-yourselves from false-gods/idols.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “My like children, be careful what you believe-in/obey and serve. Make sure that there is nothing at all with which you will replace this true God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my children, do not worship the idols which are merely manufactured.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Yatzachi Zapotec: “My little children, do not worship anything other than only God.”
Eastern Highland Otomi: “My dear children, we must not believe the deceiving (untrue) gods. This is what we will think on now.”
Tzotzil: “Therefore, my children, idols are not useful to us in any way (means that we should not have anything to do with them). Thus let it be.”
Garifuna: “My children/offspring. Don’t you bow down (worship) before whatever thing that is not God.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
Keep yourselves from idols, or ‘be on your guard against idols,’ ‘do not turn towards idols,’ ‘take care that you have nothing to do with idols’; or, specifying the act they should avoid, ‘don’t trust/worship idols.’ The Greek verb form, an imperative of the aorist, expresses a strict prohibition.
Idols: the Greek word (which occurs only here in John’s writings) has the meaning “image,” specifically “image of a god”; then also that which is depicted in the image, the “god.” In the Bible the term is always used in the sense of “false god.” Some descriptive renderings used are ‘what is not (the true) God,’ ‘something other than God,’ ‘what is only thought/supposed to be God,’ ‘hand-made god,’ ‘god-in-imitation’ (formed in analogy with man-in-imitation, meaning “doll”).
At first sight the verse seems to be a rather unexpected and inappropriate conclusion of this Letter, which nowhere makes mention of idol worship. It is to be remembered, however, that in the Old Testament idols, or “false gods,” is sometimes used in a metaphorical sense with reference to sin. The term serves then to bring out how horrible sin is. The same usage occurs in some texts in the Dead Sea Scrolls. When idols is taken in this metaphorical sense, the verse can be interpreted as a warning to keep away from sin. As such it would be an appropriate conclusion of John’s first Letter, which repeatedly warns against sin.
The majority of translators follow the literal rendering. Their example is probably best followed here, but preferably with an explanatory footnote explaining what has been said above.
Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The First Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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