abomination

The Hebrew that is translated as “abomination” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “hated thing” and in Kwere as zitibusa which means “evil” but also something that causes horror or disgust and revolts people. (Source for both: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

in Ngambay it is nékɔb or “taboo.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also detestable in the sight of God and holy.

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

complete verse (Ezekiel 16:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 16:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Ezekiel, rebuke Jerusalem for the things they have done which my head does not accept.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Man, let- Jerusalem -know of her detestable deeds.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘You human, cause the people of Jerusalem to think about their detestable behavior.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 16:2

For Son of man (International Children’s Bible “Human being”),

Make known to Jerusalem her abominations: God tells Ezekiel to confront the people of Jerusalem concerning all the wicked things that they have done. God’s command does not imply a simple telling of a story here. Rather, it has the sense of informing the people of a legal charge against them. Make known to is better rendered “point out to” (Good News Translation) or “confront” (New International Version, New Living Translation, New Jerusalem Bible). Throughout this chapter Jerusalem stands for the nation of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. For those languages in which it is not possible to tell anything to a city, translators may expand Jerusalem to “the people of Jerusalem [or, Judah].” Abominations usually refers to idols and false gods (see 5.9), but here it has a wider sense of “hated actions” (New Century Version) or “disgusting sins” (Contemporary English Version). Such sins included worshiping idols, mistreating fellow Israelites, forsaking God, and relying on foreign nations for safety. It was God who hated these actions.

A model for this verse is:

• “Human being, point out to [the people of] Jerusalem the things they have done that I hate.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .