prophesy

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The Hebrew and the Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).

Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause one to say one will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom), and “bring God’s mouth” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation).

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

  • For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
  • For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
  • For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

complete verse (Ezekiel 6:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 6:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Ezekiel, look at the hills of Israel and condemn (them). Prophesy bad things.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Man, you face the mountains of Israel and say against them,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘You human, turn toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy aboutwhat will happen to them, and say,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 6:2

For Son of man, International Children’s Bible says “Human being.”

Set your face toward the mountains of Israel: Set your face toward may be rendered “look toward” (Good News Translation) or “face in the direction of.” God’s people first settled in the mountainous areas of Canaan, so the mountains of Israel recalls the original land possessed by the nation. Also, as the Traduction œcuménique de la Bible footnote indicates, it was in these mountains that the people had erected idols and worshiped other gods. Other translators can put this information into footnotes as well.

And prophesy against them means Ezekiel must give God’s message of warning to the mountains (see the comments on 4.7). Good News Translation says “and give them my message.” To capture better the sense of the preposition against, this clause may be rendered “and give them my message about how I will judge them” or “and give them my message of judgment.” Ezekiel must speak God’s words to the mountains. It may sound strange in some languages for God to speak to mountains, but every attempt should be made to retain this. God’s words to the mountains follow in most of the rest of the section.

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 .