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). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

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.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 14:5

To crown all his honors he took Joppa for a harbor: See 1Macc 13.11 for the story of Simon’s capture of Joppa. To crown all is honors is literally “And with all his glory.” New English Bible renders this phrase well, saying “Among other notable achievements.” An alternative model for this line is “One of his great deeds was to capture the seaport of Joppa.”

And opened a way to the isles of the sea: Only with the capture of Joppa did Judea gain an outlet to the sea, opening the possibility of commercial contact with other Mediterranean areas, in particularly the isles of the sea (see the comments on 1Macc 6.29). Good News Bible accurately renders the isles of the sea as “the Greek islands.” However, “Greek” does not have to be specified, since the point is that now there was an opportunity to trade with areas that could not be reached by land. So we may translate “Now ships could sail to the [Greek] islands.”

An alternative model is for this verse is:

• One of his great deeds was the capture of the seaport of Joppa. Now ships could sail to the [Greek] islands.

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.