Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 10:29:
Kupsabiny: “Moses replied that, ‘Just as you have said I will never pass before you again.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Moses said, "As you say, I will never again appear before you."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Moises answered, ‘If that is what you (sing.) want, I will- no-longer -show-up to you (sing.) again.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Bariai: “And then Moses said, ‘It’s like you say. I won’t come and see your face any more.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Opo: “And Moses said to him «As you said it, you not me again will see!»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
English: “Moses/I replied, ‘You are correct! You will never see me again!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here ).
In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:
The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).
In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The Hebrew that is translated as “face” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-kao (お顔), combining “face” (kao) with the respectful prefix o-.
Moses said introduces a direct response to the Pharaoh’s warning, so “Moses answered” (Good News Translation) or “Moses replied” is better. As you say! has been changed to “Just as you say!” in New Revised Standard Version. Literally it is “Thus you say,” or “Thus you have spoken.” It is still not easy to determine the exact meaning.
Various interpretations have been given to this expression. Earlier editions of Good News Translation had “Anything you say,” which suggests that Moses is meekly submitting to the king’s command. On the other hand, Durham translates “Whatever you say,” explaining in a comment that the response is “tinged with the irony that Pharaoh himself may very well yet ask for him to come back.”
“You are right” is more likely the meaning intended, suggesting that there will no longer be the need for an appearance, since the Israelites will be gone. Hence I will not see your face again; or, following the adjustment in Good News Translation, “You will never see me again.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “You have spoken rightly. I shall not see your face again!” But see also New International Version, “Just as you say … I will never appear before you again.” Contemporary English Version has “Have it your way,” Moses answered, “You won’t see me again!”
Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.