sanctuary

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “sanctuary” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with opatulika or “separated place.” This is understood in a religious setup as a place designated for worship. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 13:6

But I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary and your wives and children: The connector But is better expressed as “Not in the least!” (Good News Bible) or simply “No!” (New English Bible). The verb avenge does not seem to be the proper word in this context; a person avenges a past action, but here Simon seems to have a future threat in mind. New English Bible is better with “take up the cause of,” and so is Good News Bible with “fight to defend.” Simon was not thinking only of Trypho, but also all the nations (see 1Macc 12.53)

For all the nations have gathered together out of hatred to destroy us: The Greek connector rendered for is contrastive here, so it is better rendered “even though.” All the nations is better translated “all the Gentile nations” (Good News Bible). The phrase Out of hatred may be placed near the beginning of this last half of the verse by saying “All the Gentile nations hate us and have gathered together to destroy us.”

Good News Bible reverses the order of the clauses in this verse, and many translators will find this helpful, but Good News Bible‘s rendering uses rather difficult language. Another possible model that restructures it is:

• No! I don’t care if all the nations of the world hate us and have come together to try to destroy us. I am going to fight to defend my country, the Temple, and your wives and children!”

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.