gentiles / nations

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo (Dinė) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).

Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), “other ethnic groups” (source: Newari Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).

In Chichewa, it is translated with mitundu or “races.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also nations.

complete verse (Amos 6:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Amos 6:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “It is bad for you who enjoy life in Zion
    and you who are protected/secure in Samaria.
    You leaders of this great country,
    whom all the people of Israel put their hope in/rely on.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Woe to you who enjoy pleasure in Zion!
    And woe to those who consider themselves secure on the hill of Samaria!
    You are renown people of the first nation,
    yet people of Israel have to come begging for help!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) are-to-be-pitied leaders/[lit. heads] of Zion and of Samaria, who are- just -relaxing and have nothing to worry-about. You (plur.) consider yourselves honorable people of the leading nation, and in you (plur.) your (plur.) residents take-refuge.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Amos 6:1

Woe to/How terrible. See 5.7 and 5.18. In many languages it would be better to translate this verse with more than one sentence. Woe to may then have to be repeated in the beginning of the second sentence: “woe to you great men….”

The mention of Zion creates certain problems of interpretation which are dealt with at length in the commentaries (see also 1.2). However, these questions have nothing to do with translation.

On the mountain of Samaria/in Samaria. See 4.1. The particular geographical position of Samaria is not important here, so a translation like in Samaria or “in the town of Samaria” is all right.

At ease … feel secure/have such an easy life … feel safe. The same two Hebrew expressions occur as a pair in Isa 32.9-18 also. Their meanings overlap to a great extent and can be translated as “at ease/careless” and “secure/untroubled.” Possible translations are “to live in peace” and “to rest quietly.” “Peace” in this context means “peace of mind” and many languages may have expressions like “to sit down in one’s heart,” “to have a song in the body,” “to be cool,” “to have a stomach which is smoothed,” etc.

The notable (Hebrew: distinguished, prominent) men of the first of the nations/great men of this great nation Israel. First does not mean first in time, as has been wrongly suggested in some English translations (Moffatt: “leaders of this most ancient race”; New American Bible: “Leaders of a nation favored from the first”). In most languages the translator can restructure much as in Good News Translation.

To whom the house of Israel come (Hebrew: and they come to them the house of Israel)/you to whom the people go for help. The Hebrew raises questions which are difficult to answer. Who comes to whom and why? Is house of Israel coming? Is it an explanation of “them,” or is Amos speaking to the house of Israel? Does “them” refer back to the leaders or to the nations? Why do they—whoever they are—come? For help, for judgment, to honor? Traditionally, the text has been understood to mean that the people of Israel come to their leaders for help (so Smith-Goodspeed, New English Bible: “resort”; New American Bible: “have recourse”; Good News Translation: go for help). The translation should therefore follow the solution of the Good News Translation. However, for “go” or “come” the translator should use what is natural for the language. The Hebrew verb can be understood to mean “come again and again” and some languages should perhaps express this idea of repetition: “keep going/coming,” “come/go again and again.”

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 6:1

Section 6:1–7

Yahweh threatens war for people who live in ease

6:1a Woe to those at ease in Zion

Alas for you (plur.) who are self-satisfied in Zion.
-or-
How terrible it will be for you ⌊people⌋ in Zion who worry about nothing!
-or-
⌊Amos went on speaking,⌋ “Things will be very bad for you ⌊people⌋ in Jerusalem who do not have a care about anything.

6:1b and those secure on Mount Samaria,

⌊And alas for⌋ you (plur.) who feel safe on Mount Samaria!
-or-

⌊How terrible it will be⌋ for you who think you are safe in Samaria!

6:1c the distinguished ones of the foremost nation,

⌊Alas for⌋ you (plur.) important people of the first nation,
-or-

⌊How terrible for⌋ you the important leaders of the great nation ⌊of Israel⌋ .

6:1d to whom the house of Israel comes.

the house of Israel comes to you (plur.) !
-or-
the people of Israel keep coming to you ⌊important leaders for help⌋ .

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