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 2 Esdras 13:52

He said to me: This quote frame introduces verses 52b-56, which gives the answer to Ezra’s question. As in verses 21-50, it is not clear who the speaker is in these verses; for example in verse 52b the speaker is clearly God, but in verse 56 it is the angel Uriel. Once again the writer makes no distinction between God and the angel who delivers God’s message. We recommend that translators follow Revised Standard Version by using the pronoun He. The verb said may be rendered “answered” (Good News Bible).

Just as no one can explore or know what is in the depths of the sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are with him …: The answer to Ezra’s question is that the bottom of the sea was chosen because it is symbolic of the unknown. No one knows what the sea contains, and no one knows when God’s Son is coming, and no one will, until he does come. Those who are with him refers to people who went to heaven without dying, such as Enoch and Elijah (compare 2 Esd 6.26; 7.28; 14.9).

Except in the time of his day means until the day that has been appointed for him to appear, the day that God has decided his Son should appear. Good News Bible renders this phrase as “until the day that has been fixed,” but a clearer model is “until the day that he is to appear.” The Revised Standard Version footnote here has no information that the translator need consider; it is purely translational, not textual.

The following model of this verse is based on Contemporary English Version:

• He answered, “Just as no one knows what is at the bottom of the sea, so no one on earth will see God’s Son or those with him until the day that he is to appear.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.