23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and select leaders, all of them riding on horses.
The name that is transliterated as “Chaldean” in English means “astrologer,” “wanderers.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with the sign that combines “Mesopotamia” (see here) and “spreading out,” since the Chaldeans originated in southern Mesopotamia and spread out from there. (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 23:23:
Kupsabiny: “(They) will come from Babylon, Pekod, Shoa, Koa and Assyria. These people are young people, leaders, rulers and famous/well-known people. They all come on horses.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They were the ones-from-Babilonia and the Caldeans who came from Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and the ones-from-Asiria. They were handsome and young men. They were captains, commanders, charioteer officials, and other highest officials. They were still all horse-riders.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “soldiers from Babylon and all the other places in Babylonia, andtheir allies from Pekod and Shoa and Koaregions, and all the army of Assyria. Yes, all of them are handsome young men, army officers and commanders, officers who ride in chariots, all riding on horses.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and warriors, all of them riding on horses: This verse lists Oholibah’s lovers in terms similar to those used earlier in the chapter. For Babylonians and Chaldeans, see verses 14-15; for Assyrians see Ezek 23.5; for desirable young men, governors, commanders, warriors and riding on horses, see Ezek 23.6; and for officers, see verse 15. Pekod, Shoa and Koa were tribes that lived near the Tigris River east of Babylon, about whom very little is known. It is not clear why Ezekiel included these three tribes, but it may be significant that in Hebrew the tribal names mean “Punish! Cry for help! Scream!” The sound of these names would have been threatening to Ezekiel’s audience. Such plays on words are frequent in Ezekiel but of course are very difficult to reflect in translation.
The footnote in Revised Standard Version shows that the Hebrew text has “called” instead of warriors. Because only one letter is different between the Hebrew words for “called” and warriors, Revised Standard Version assumes that “called” is a mistake for warriors used in verse 6. Other translations keep the original Hebrew word here; for example, New International Version has “men of high rank,” New King James Version and New American Standard Bible say “men of renown,” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project uses “dignitaries,” and Good News Translation translates “important officials.” Ezekiel often makes minor changes to lists that are very similar, so translators will do well to follow Good News Translation in preference to Revised Standard Version in this instance.
Good News Translation finds it natural to repeat part of the previous verse by beginning with “I will bring,” which may be helpful in other languages. A model for this verse is:
• I will bring against you men from Babylon and the rest of Babylonia, men from the tribes of Pekod, Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians. They all are handsome young men, officials and leaders, officers and men of high rank who are coming on their horses to attack.
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 .
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