abomination

The Hebrew that is translated as “abomination” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “hated thing” and in Kwere as zitibusa which means “evil” but also something that causes horror or disgust and revolts people. (Source for both: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

in Ngambay it is nékɔb or “taboo.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also detestable in the sight of God and holy.

complete verse (Ezekiel 5:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 5:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “I shall do amazing things that I have not done any other day and shall not do again, on account of those idols that are abominable that you worship.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Because of your detestable doings, I will do to you what I have not done yet and I will no-longer do (it).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Because of all your detestable idols, I will punish youpeople of Jerusalem like I have never done before and will never do again.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 5:9

And because of all your abominations: Abominations refers to things that God hated. These things probably had something to do with worshiping idols. New International Version renders all your abominations as “all your detestable idols,” and Good News Translation has “all the things you do that I hate” (similarly New Century Version).

I will do with you what I have never yet done: God threatens to punish the people of Jerusalem and Judah more severely than he had ever done in the past. The play on words continues here. The Hebrew verb rendered do twice and done once in this verse is the same one translated “kept” in verse 7 and “execute” in verse 8.

And the like of which I will never do again: God’s punishment will be so severe that he will never punish them as severely again in the future. The focus in this clause and the previous one is on the severity of the punishment, which Contemporary English Version expresses explicitly by saying “Your punishment will be more horrible than anything I’ve ever done or will ever do again.”

A model for this verse is:

• Because you did things I hate so much, I will punish you worse than ever before or will ever again.

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 .