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 Baruch 4:21

Take courage: The subsection of the poem that includes verses 21-26 begins with the same strong imperative verb as in verse 5 (see the comments there).

Cry to God: The Greek verb for cry used here is a different word from the one translated “cry” in the previous line, but the meaning is the same. Contemporary English Version says “beg God to help you!”

He will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemy: See the comments on verse 18. Power and hand can be easily and appropriately combined, but two terms of similar meaning can also be used to good effect. Good News Translation does this well with “He will rescue you from oppression, from the power of your enemies,” but New Jerusalem Bible is especially good in its choice of words: “he will deliver you from tyranny, from the clutches of your enemies.” Contemporary English Version, however, combines the two words with “He is the one who will rescue you from your powerful enemy.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.