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The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

Other translations include:

  • San Blas Kuna: “help the heart”
  • Laka: “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “lift out on behalf of”
  • Anuak: “have life because of”
  • Central Mazahua: “be healed in the heart”
  • Baoulé: “save one’s head”
  • Guerrero Amuzgo: “come out well”
  • Northwestern Dinka: “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida),
  • Matumbi: “rescue (from danger)” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Noongar: barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • South Bolivian Quechua: “make to escape”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand” (source for this and one above: Nida 1947, p. 222)
  • Bariai: “retrieve one back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

See also salvation and save (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Amos 2:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Amos 2:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Your people of arrows will not be standing up.
    The speed/running of those who run fast will not save (them)
    and those who ride on horses will not save their lives.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The one with bow and arrow will not be able to stand his ground,
    even exerting all his agility the fastest runner will not be able to save himself
    nor will the horse rider be able to save his life.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Even the archers in war will-back-off. The soldiers who run fast can- not -flee, and the horse riders can- not -save themselves.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Even if you are able to shoot arrows well,
    you will be forced to retreat ;
    even if you run fast or if you ride away on a horse,
    you will not be able to save yourself.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

survive / escape / save

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “survive,” “escape,” “save,” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in these verses with pulumuka, describing someone whose life was in danger but who has freed himself or herself. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Amos 2:15

He who handles the bow shall not stand/Bowmen will not stand their ground. Good News Translation uses an English idiom “to stand one’s ground” meaning “to maintain one’s position in battle.” This is exactly the meaning of the Hebrew verb. However, idioms can rarely be translated literally, so usually a translator will have to describe the action: “the men who shoot the bow in battle will be forced to retreat,” or “the bowmen will not wait,” meaning that they will not even be able to take time to aim, or “they will not stand firm” (see Smith-Goodspeed, The Translator’s Old Testament).

Not all languages have a specific word for bowmen. Often a descriptive phrase has to be used as in Hebrew “he who handles the bow.” The translator may have to say, for example, “he who holds the bow in his hand” or “he who fights with a bow.” If the bow is not known, the translator may have to use a more generic term for weapon.

He who is swift of foot shall not save himself/not even fast runners will escape. Many languages have expressions similar to swift of foot, such as “men who have strong legs,” etc.

Nor shall he who rides the horse save his life/men on horses will not escape with their lives. It will be necessary in many cases to use a descriptive phrase for men on horses, especially when horses are not used in the local culture. Normally they will at least be known, and there will be some term for them. Using horses in battle may be less widely known than horses themselves. In such cases the use of the horses may have to be clear: “men who ride horses as they fight their enemies.”

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan & Smalley, William A. A Handbook on Amos. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1979. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Amos 2:15

2:15a The archer will not stand his ground,

The men who shoot the bow ⌊in battle⌋ will be forced to retreat (USB).
-or-
The soldier who uses the bow will not be able to keep his position in the battle.

2:15b the fleet of foot will not escape,

The fast running soldier will not save himself,
-or-
The fastest soldier will not run fast enough to escape.

2:15c and the horseman will not save his life.

and the rider on horseback will not save his life.
-or-
And the ⌊soldiers⌋ on horses will not be able to escape.

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