enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 10:26

Since you have kept your agreement with us may be rendered “you have kept your obligations under our treaty” (Good News Bible) or “you have kept your promises to me.” At this point the king is using the plural pronouns us, our and we in the royal sense, referring to himself.

And have continued your friendship with us may be translated “and have remained friends with me” or “and you are still my friends.”

And have not sided with our enemies may be expressed as “and have not become the allies of my enemies.”

We have heard of it and rejoiced: Demetrius, of course, has good reason to think that Jonathan has switched sides, but he pretends not to know. In some languages it will be helpful to put this final clause at the beginning of the verse as Good News Bible does with “We are delighted to learn that….” Contemporary English Version is similar with “I was very pleased to learn that….”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.