opobalsamum (balsam; balm)

The Hebrew word bosem, which is often rendered “balm” (derived from “balsam”), can refer to any type of aromatic healing substance, but it also designates the product of a particular tree, the balsam or opobalsamum Commiphora gileadensis. Arabs call it balasam or balasham. In the Talmud it is called afarsimon. Excavations near En Gedi have uncovered an ancient processing plant for balsam oil.

The opobalsamum tree likes a desert or semi-desert climate. It grows to 2‑3 meters (7‑10 feet) tall and has small, wrinkled, three-part leaves, white flowers, and pea-sized red berries that have a fragrant yellow seed inside. The bark of younger branches is gray, turning brown with age. The resin appears by itself in green droplets from the stems and branches, but collectors also make cuts in the branches to speed the process. The droplets turn from green to brown, clump together, and fall to the ground, where they are collected.

In Bible times, balsam oil was used in holy anointing oil, as medicine, and as an ingredient of perfume.

A generic word or phrase for sweet-smelling substances is appropriate to render bosem, although where a specific name for the balsam tree is available, as in southwestern Arabia and Somalia, this could also be used. At least one hundred species of the genus Commiphora are spread throughout dry areas of the world. Translators in some areas will know the plants; others may know only the dried resin of Commiphora sold in spice markets.

Balsam tree, Photo by Nigel Hepper

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

complete verse (Ezekiel 27:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 27:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “You did business with Sheba and Raamah exchanging things that make vegetables/food delicious, stones of power/value and gold.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘ ‘The merchants of Sheba and Raama also made-business with you. What they paid for your merchandise were all kinds of fine/good spices, precious stones, and gold.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Merchants from Sheba and Raamah in Arabia brought many kinds of very good spices and jewels and gold to exchange for things that you had.” (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.

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 27:22

The traders of Sheba and Raamah traded with you: Sheba was a kingdom in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Raamah is always connected with Sheba in the Bible, but its exact position is unknown. It may have been the capital city of Sheba.

They exchanged for your wares the best of all kinds of spices, and all precious stones, and gold: These people exported to Tyre spices, precious stones, and gold. The Hebrew word for spices refers to perfumes and sweet-smelling oils, not spices used for cooking These spices were the best of all kinds, that is, the very best of all sorts of perfumes. Precious stones may be rendered “jewels” (Good News Translation, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation) or “valuable gems” (New Century Version). Translators may use a general word that covers a wide range of gems. Of course, gold was the most valuable metal.

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 .