complete verse (Ezekiel 47:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 47:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “The man again counted a length of five hundred meters and told me to go into the middle of the water. The water there reached to the knees. He again counted five hundred meters, the water of that place reached to the waistline.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The man measured again about 1,700 feet and he had- me-go-into the water again which was already up to my knee. He measured again about 1,700 feet and he had- me -go-into the water again which was already up to my waist.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then he measured off another 1,750 feet/530 meters and led me through water that was up to my knees. Then he measured off another 1,750 feet/530 meters and led me through water that was up to my waist.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 47:4

Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water …: See Ezek 47.3. On two more occasions Ezekiel and his guide walked on another 500 meters downstream and Ezekiel had to wade again into the water. On the second occasion the water was knee-deep, that is, “up to my knees” (Good News Translation), so it was about half a meter (1.5 feet) deep. On the third occasion the water was up to the loins, that is, “up to my waist” (Good News Translation), so it was about a meter (3 feet) deep.

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 .