sell

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sell” in English is translated in Noongar as wort-bangal or “away-barter.” Note that “buy” is translated as bangal-barranga or “get-barter.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)

See also buy and buying / selling.

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 2 Maccabees 10:21

When word of what had happened came to Maccabeus may be rendered “When Judas heard what had happened” (Good News Bible) or even “When people told Judas about what had happened.”

He gathered the leaders of the people: The people refers to Judas’ soldiers, so this clause may be translated “he called together the officers of his troops [or, army].”

And accused these men of having sold their brethren for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them: Judas said that accepting money to let the enemy go free was the same thing as accepting money for their fellow Jews, that is, selling them. In languages that must use direct speech here, translators may say “and he accused the men who took the bribe, saying, ‘You have sold out your fellow Jews, and now these enemy soldiers who escaped will attack us again.’”

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.