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:
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 26:2:
Kupsabiny: “‘Ezekiel, the people of Tyre were happy over what happened to Jerusalem saying, ‘Jerusalem has been destroyed and it was pulled down, however, I was exalted!” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “‘Man, the ones-from-Tyre rejoiced over the destruction of Jerusalem. They said, ‘The important road of the businessmen of the nations is- now -destroyed. And we (excl.) are- now -considered important. And because Jerusalem is- now -destroyed, we too will-prosper.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “‘You human, the people of Tyre city shouted joyfully and said about Jerusalem, ‘Jerusalem, the city from which many traders/merchants went to many nations, is now destroyed. And now people from all over the world will come to us to buy and sell things. Because Jerusalem has now been ruined, we will prosper!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
For Son of man, International Children’s Bible “Human being”).
Because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem …: The people of Tyre sinned by gloating over the downfall of Jerusalem. They expressed the same malicious glee as the Ammonites (see 25.3), but the reason for their joy was commercial and economic. For Tyre see the introductory comments on this section. Translators may say “the city of Tyre.” However, to understand the rest of this passage, readers need to know that the city of Tyre was on an island, so another possible model is “the island city of Tyre.”
Aha renders a Hebrew exclamation that expresses satisfaction (see 25.3). It may be combined with the previous clause by saying “the people of [the island city of] Tyre were happy at [or, took pleasure in] what happened to Jerusalem.”
The gate of the peoples is broken: The gate of the peoples refers to Jerusalem as a “center of trade” (Contemporary English Version), possibly because Jerusalem controlled the rich trading routes to Egypt and Arabia. New Jerusalem Bible says “the Gateway to the Nations” (similarly New Living Translation). New Century Version expresses this whole clause as “The city that traded with the nations is destroyed.” Translators may also say “Our barrier to trading with other nations is destroyed.”
It has swung open to me: This figurative expression refers to the possession of the rich trade routes passing from Jerusalem to Tyre. When Jerusalem was defeated, these routes were now open to Tyre, and the people of Tyre had the opportunity to grow rich. New Century Version expresses this clause well, saying “Now we can be the trading center.” Another good model is “Now we are the ones to trade with all the nations.”
I shall be replenished (literally “I will become full”) means Tyre will become rich. New Century Version says “we can make money.”
Now that she is laid waste: In contrast to the wealth of Tyre, Jerusalem was “destroyed” (New International Reader’s Version). For the Hebrew verb rendered is laid waste, see the comments on 12.20. In languages where passive verbs are not natural, translators may render this clause as “now that an enemy has destroyed Jerusalem.”
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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