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)

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 16:58

Who has enclosed the sea in the midst of the waters: This is not a question. It is better to begin this verse with “He enclosed….” There is a textual problem here. Two Latin manuscripts read “world” instead of sea, which makes this clause easier to understand. However, this reading may be a scribal attempt to correct the difficult Latin text followed by Revised Standard Version. New English Bible follows the same text as Revised Standard Version, saying “he confined the sea within the bounds of the waters,” which we take to mean “he put the sea where water is supposed to be” (see the comments on the previous verse; see also Jer 5.22; Man 3).

And by his word has suspended the earth over the water means God put the earth on top of the water. Compare Psa 24.2; 136.6.

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• He confined the sea within its proper limits, and by his word he put the earth on top of the water.

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.