sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Exodus 14:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 14:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Tell the Israelites to turn and head towards south and then stretch/erect their tents in front/ahead of Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea so as to look towards Baal-zephon.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamped near Pi-Hahiroth between Migdol and the sea; they are to encamp by the sea directly opposite Baal-Zephon.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Tell the Israelinhon that they are-to-turn-back near Pi Hahirot, between Migdol and the Red Sea, and they will-camp there by-the-side of the sea, in-front-of Baal Zefon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “‘Speak to the Israel people in order that they return back and make camp close to the edge of the ocean in Piairot village which is between Mikdol village and the Red ocean, opposite from Balsepon village.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “«you say people of Israel they must turn, they must go encamp the place which be present in middle of Migdol and Water Red, which be present side of city of Pi-Hahiroth and Baal-Zephon.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Tell the Israeli people to turn around and go back and set up their tents in front of Pi-Hahiroth town. That town is between Migdol and the sea, across from Baal-Zephon town. Set up your tents there, close to the sea.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Exod 14:1-2

Then is the usual conjunction waw, but it marks the next event after the people arrived in Etham (see 13.20). Since this is the first verse of a new chapter, it will be helpful to connect it to the previous one. To do this, one may say, for example, “At the place called Etham the LORD…” or “While the Israelites were camped outside the place called Etham, the LORD….” Then the LORD said to Moses is literally “And Yahweh spoke [diber] to Moses, saying [ʾamar].” This longer form in the Hebrew, identical with 13.1 and 6.10, is understood by some to be a discourse marker introducing a larger unit. However, it means the same as the shorter form, “And Yahweh said [ʾamar] to Moses,” in 12.43 and 14.15.

Tell the people of Israel is literally “you [singular] speak to the sons of Israel.” To turn back, literally “and they will turn back,” is not a direct quote. However, in a number of languages this will become direct speech and will be in quotes; for example, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘You must turn back….’ ” The basic meaning of the word is to return, but here it means to change direction, or “turn about” (New American Bible), in order probably to move toward the north. And encamp is the same word as in 13.20. In front of Pi-ha-hiroth refers to a town that cannot easily be located today. It is two words in the Hebrew. The word Pi means “mouth,” and the town is called Hahiroth in Num 33.8. Here, however, it is best to treat the two words as another name for the same town. Another way to express this sentence is “You must turn around and go and set up your tents in front of the town of Pi Hahiroth.”

Between Migdol and the sea gives us more information, but the location of Migdol is also uncertain. The context suggests somewhere in northeastern Egypt. The sea may refer either to the Red Sea or to a shallow body of water farther north. Since this is uncertain, it is better to translate simply the sea. In front of Baal-zephon probably identifies another town near Migdol. It also is written in two words in the Hebrew, possibly meaning “Baal of the North.” You shall encamp over against it is still spoken to Moses, but the you plural includes the Israelites as well. The it refers to Baal-zephon. By the sea simply repeats the same words and may be omitted.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• At the place called Etham the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must turn around and go and set up your tents in front of the town of Pi Hahiroth near the town of Baal Zephon. This is between the town of Migdol and the sea.

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 .