remember

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “remember” in English is translated in Mairasi as “it is (or: place it) in your liver’s crack” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar as barrang-dwangka, literally “ear-hold” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

In Kalmyk, there is no equivalent to “remember,” so the translation there is “don’t forget.” (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

See also forget, wisdom, God remembered Noah and Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 12:11

We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion: The connector therefore is not particularly appropriate here, since what is said in this verse does not follow from verse 10. Good News Bible and many other versions omit it. Abel begins with “As for us.” Good News Bible renders constantly as “Throughout the years,” which is probably not correct. It is better to say “always.” On every occasion refers to the feasts and the other appropriate days, and may be combined with these expressions (see the model below). An alternative model to begin this verse is “But we haven’t forgotten you. We always remember you….”

Both in our feasts and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brethren: Feasts and on other appropriate days refers to religious holidays when the Jews offered sacrifices and prayed. Brethren is yet another reference to the supposed kinship of the Jews with the Spartans (see the comments on verse 6).

Alternative models for this verse are:

• But we have not forgotten you. We remember you on every religious holiday, whenever we offer sacrifices and pray. It is fit and proper to do this for a people related to us.

• It is our custom and duty to remember people who are related to us. So during our festivals and other special days, we always think of you as we pray and offer sacrifices.

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.