complete verse (Ezekiel 26:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 26:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “The kings/rulers of the nearby countries shall leave behind their chairs of rulership and take off their clothes that were beautified and showing honor. They shall sit down while trembling over what has come to you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The leaders of the places who were near the sea will-step-down from their throne and will-take-off their kingly/royal clothes and their inner clothes which are beautiful. And they will-sit on the ground shaking in fear because of what you received/[what your outcome-became].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then all the kings in the cities along the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and their embroidered clothes. They will be terrified, and they will sit on the ground, trembling. They will be appalled because of what has happened to the city of Tyre.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (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 second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

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)

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.)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 26:16

Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones …: The princes of the sea were the rulers of the islands and countries that traded on the Mediterranean Sea and controlled the trade routes along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Good News Translation says “the kings of the seafaring nations,” and New Century Version has “the leaders of the seacoast.” When these leaders hear about the downfall of Tyre, they will step down from their thrones because their thrones were chairs that were set up on platforms, sometimes with steps leading up to them. For embroidered garments, see the comments on 16.10. New International Reader’s Version says “beautiful clothes,” and New Century Version has “beautiful needlework clothes.” These robes and embroidered garments were signs of their status as kings and rulers. The two terms may be combined in a functional expression, such as “beautiful outer garments that kings wore.”

After the rulers take off their beautiful royal clothes, they will clothe themselves with trembling. This figurative expression describes them as very afraid. It is acceptable to use nonfigurative language here; for example, Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version say simply “trembling.” But translators may also use a simile here, such as “Just like putting on different clothes, they will begin trembling [in fear].” The form of the Hebrew word rendered trembling is slightly unusual, but it may simply be a form of intensification, that is, to show great, intense trembling. With the continued stress on fear in the next sentence, this depicts the very great fear that these rulers will feel when they hear of Tyre’s fall. But another interpretation is possible. Instead of trembling, the term may be related to a rare Hebrew word meaning “ragged/torn clothes” (compare Anchor Bible “tatters” and Revised English Bible “loincloths”). This clause then refers to the rulers humbling themselves by putting on mourning clothes (which is usually sackcloth). This interpretation makes very good sense and, by contrasting with the beautiful clothes, fits the context perfectly. Either interpretation is acceptable. If translators choose the latter interpretation, they may say “They will put on torn clothes for mourning.”

They will sit upon the ground: This was the usual position for someone in great fear or distress.

And tremble every moment: International Children’s Bible renders this clause well with “They will shake with fear all the time.” Good News Translation has “they will not be able to stop trembling,” and Revised English Bible says “shuddering incessantly.”

And be appalled at you means the rulers will be “shocked” (Contemporary English Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version) at what happened to Tyre. For the Hebrew verb rendered appalled, see the comments on 3.15, where it is translated “overwhelmed.” New Jerusalem Bible says “stunned,” and New American Bible has “horrified.”

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 .