The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “anger” or similar in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied”).
Chichewa: “have a burning heart” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) (see also anger burned in him)
Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)
In Akan, a number of metaphors are used, most importantly abufuo, lit. “weedy chest” (the chest is seen as a container that contains the heart but can also metaphorically be filled with other fluids etc.), but also abufuhyeε lit. “hot/burning weedy chest” and anibereε, lit. “reddened eyes.” (Source: Gladys Nyarko Ansah in Kövecses / Benczes / Szelid 2024, p. 21ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 32:22:
Kupsabiny: “Aaron replied to Moses that, ‘Sir, do not be annoyed to me like that, after all you know that these people are never scared of sin.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Aaron answered, ‘Don’t be angry (using higher honorific — Moses leader of higher tank.) You know these people very well. Their mind has turned to evil.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Aaron answered, ‘[You (sing.)] do- not -be-angry with me. You (sing.) also know how easy (it is) for them to be-brought/carried into evil.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Bariai: “And then Aron said, ‘Big man, please don’t be angry. You know, these people are very insistent about doing evil.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Opo: “And Aaron answered for him it «Oh my lord! not (imp.) for me be angry! you see it that these people are seeking evil things.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
English: “Aaron replied, ‘Please do not be angry with me, sir. You know that these people are very determined to do evil things.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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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 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. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-zonji (ご存じ), a combination of “know” (zonji) and the honorific prefix go-.
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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, -naide (ないで) or “do not (for their sake)” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”
And Aaron said is literally “Aaron answered” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), which is better. Let not the anger of my lord burn hot is literally “The nose of my lord should not become hot.” (See the comment at verse 10.) As a third person imperative it may also be expressed in the second person, “Don’t be angry with me” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). My lord, ʾadoni, is a common term of respect that means “sir” (Translator’s Old Testament). It is a simpler form of ʾadonay (“Lord”), the term used in addressing God. (See the comment at 3.2a.) Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version unfortunately omit this as unnatural, since Aaron is speaking to his younger brother. In languages that normally require Aaron to maintain his position as “elder” or “elder sibling,” translators may need to use some other honorific displaying respect for Moses, even though he is younger.
You know the people, that they are set on evil is literally “you [singular], you know the people because in evil it.” (The pronoun “it” is singular, since people is singular in form.) Set on evil may also be rendered as “prone … to evil” (New International Version, New American Bible), or “bent on evil” (New Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation is clear, “you know how determined these people are to do evil.” One may also translate “You know as well as I do that they are determined to do evil” (Contemporary English Version).
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 .
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