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 ).

In Cherokee it is either translated as “the one(s) who reprimand(s) you” or “the one(s) feared.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 47)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 5:13

And all our brethren: Good News Bible says “All the Jewish men.” However, it seems that not all the men were actually killed. The final clause states that about a thousand men were killed. So it is more realistic to translate “Just about all the Jewish men” or to combine this phrase with the final one (see the model below).

Who were in the land of Tob have been killed … and [they] have destroyed about a thousand men there: The Greek does not actually mention the land of Tob. The obscure reference here could be interpreted to refer to a man named Tobias or Tobiah. A land of Tob is mentioned in Jdg 11.3, and it was in the general area of Gilead in view here. However, it is known from the Jewish historian Josephus that a family group known by the name of Tobias was prominent in the area at this time. (For the Hebrew name Hebrew “Tobiah,” see Neh 2.10; 6.17-19. Compare also 2Macc 12.17.) If a personal name is intended here, the reference could be interpreted as Tobias’ country (New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Abel), Tobias’ family group (New American Bible), or Tobias’ soldiers (Good News Bible footnote, Goldstein). Supporting the last interpretation is the fact that a thousand men renders a technical military term in Greek for a unit of a thousand soldiers. We prefer to think of this as a personal name associated with a fighting force, but not necessarily commanded by Tobias, since the reference to the presence of the men’s families implies a family group or area rather than an army. The clauses in this verse can be effectively combined. We offer a suggestion below. If translators prefer the land of Tob, it can certainly be used here instead of our suggestion. In either case no footnote is necessary.

The enemy have captured their wives and children and goods: The enemies of the Jews took their wives and children as prisoners and looted their possessions.

As a model for this verse we suggest:

• In Tobias’ region [or, the region of Tob] they have killed about a thousand of our fighting men [or, soldiers], taken their wives and children prisoner, and stolen their belongings.”

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.