prophesy

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The Hebrew and the Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).

Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause one to say one will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom), and “bring God’s mouth” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation).

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

  • For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
  • For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
  • For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

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 21:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 21:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Ezekiel, scold Jerusalem. Scold how people pray there and (scold) the land of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Man, you face Jerusalem and speak against Israel and her/its places-of-worship.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘You human, turn toward Jerusalem. Preach about what will happen to the temple there. Preach about what will happen to the Israeli people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 21:2

Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel: The structure and wording of the introduction to this prophecy is almost identical to that of 20.46. This similarity supports the idea that this subunit is an explanation of the mysterious prophecy concerning the great fire. Here God makes it clear that the prophecy is directed against Jerusalem and the land of Israel; that is, the rest of Israel. For Son of man (International Children’s Bible “Human being”), For set your face toward, see 6.2; for preach and prophesy, see 20.46. Many versions understand the Hebrew word rendered the sanctuaries to refer to the various places where the people worshiped in Jerusalem (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, King James Version / New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Moffatt, Bible en français courant). Although this word is plural in Hebrew, some interpret it as an intensive, referring to the size of the Temple (so New International Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Others follow some Hebrew manuscripts that read “their sanctuary” (Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) or “her sanctuary” (Revised English Bible). It is best to have a reference to the Temple here, so we recommend saying “the holy place” (New Century Version) or “her place of worship.”

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 .