sanctuary

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “sanctuary” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with opatulika or “separated place.” This is understood in a religious setup as a place designated for worship. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (Ezekiel 47:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 47:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Many trees that produce fruit every month shall grow on the far shore and this shore. Their leaves do not wither because they get water coming from the House of God. These trees shall be feeding people and their leaves (are) medicine.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Both-side of the river will-grow different trees which bear-fruit. Their leaves will- not -wither and their fruits will- not -be-finished. It will-bear-fruits each month for it is being-flowed with water which come from the temple. Their fruits are for the food and their leaves are for medicine.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Many kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and they will always have fruit. They will bear fruit every month, because they will continually get water from the water that comes from the temple. Their fruit will be good to eat and their leaves will be good for healing.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 47:12

In this verse the attention turns away from the Dead Sea and back to the river.

And on the banks, on both sides of the river may be rendered “on both banks of the river” (New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version) or “along both sides of the river” (New Living Translation). See Ezek 47.7.

There will grow all kinds of trees for food may be translated “All kinds of fruit trees will grow” (New Century Version; similarly New Living Translation). Food here refers to any sort of food that grows on trees, for example, nuts as well as fruit.

Their leaves will not wither means “Their leaves will never dry out” (Contemporary English Version), as when a tree lacks water or is about to die.

Nor their fruit fail may be rendered “and they will never stop bearing fruit” (Good News Translation) or “and there will always be fruit on their branches” (New Living Translation).

But they will bear fresh fruit every month means new fruit will grow on the trees every month.

Because the water for them flows from the sanctuary: The reason why the leaves of these trees will never wither and die, and the trees will always have fruit on them, is “because the water for them comes from the Temple” (New Century Version). Everything mentioned in this verse is the miraculous result of the life-giving water that will flow out from the Temple.

Their fruit will be for food means people will be able to eat the fruit and nuts that grow on the trees.

And their leaves for healing means people will use the leaves to make “medicine” (New Century Version) for “healing people” (Good News Translation).

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 .