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)
Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 8:32
If now they appeal again for help against you: Good News Bible has a good model here, saying “If they complain to us about you one more time.” But we may also translate “If they complain again that you are causing them trouble.”
We will defend their rights and fight you on sea and on land: We will defend their rights may be expressed simply as “We will defend them.” Fight you on sea and on land is translated by Good News Bible as “go to war against you on land and sea.” Contemporary English Version has “attack you with our army and navy.”
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.
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