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.

God's anger, wrath of God

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated into English as “the wrath of God” or “God’s anger” has to be referred to in Bengali as judgment, punishment or whatever fits the context. In Bengali culture, anger is by definition bad and can never be predicated of God. (Source: David Clark)

Translations in other languages:

  • Quetzaltepec Mixe: “translated with a term that not only expresses anger, but also punishment” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “the coming punishment of God on mankind” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “God’s fearful/terrible future punishing of people” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “the coming anger/hatred of God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “the punishment which will come” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “God’s action of anger comes forth in the open” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “His anger keeps increasing (until it will definitely arrive)” (source: Enggavoter 2004)

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御) is used as in mi-ikari (御怒り) or “wrath (of God)” in the referenced verses. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also anger and the coming wrath.

anger

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The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “anger” or similar in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied”).

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Chichewa: “have a burning heart” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) (see also anger burned in him)
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

In Akan, a number of metaphors are used, most importantly abufuo, lit. “weedy chest” (the chest is seen as a container that contains the heart but can also metaphorically be filled with other fluids etc.), but also abufuhyeε lit. “hot/burning weedy chest” and anibereε, lit. “reddened eyes.” (Source: Gladys Nyarko Ansah in Kövecses / Benczes / Szelid 2024, p. 21ff.)

See also God’s anger and angry.

complete verse (Ezekiel 7:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 7:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “The end has come to you (plur.) and my anger is going to finish you. I will investigate you according to your habits/life and I will punish you according to your deeds that are bad.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) are now finished, for I will- now -cause-to-experience my anger on you. I will-punish you according to your ways. I will-revenge/[lit. pay- you -back/repay] you (plur.) for your detestable deeds.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Youpeople of Israel, the end has come. I will punish you severely. I will judge you for all the wicked things that you have done, and pay you back for your disgusting behavior.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (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 first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 7:3

Now the end is upon you: The adverb Now refers to the time God is speaking. The pronoun you refers to the land of Israel. The repetition of the word end makes this prophecy of judgment more forceful. This clause may be rendered “Now is the end for you” or “Now things are over for you.”

And I will let loose my anger upon you is literally “and I will send my anger on you” (similarly New Century Version), which is not a natural expression for many languages. New International Version renders it idiomatically in English as “and I will unleash my anger against you” (similarly Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). Other possible models are “I will bring my anger to bear on you” and “I will make you feel the force of my anger.” It is also acceptable to say simply “I am very angry with you” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And will judge you according to your ways means God will judge and punish the land of Israel for the evil things that the people have done in it. The sins of the people have infected the land and made it sinful too. New Century Version says “I will judge you for the way you have lived,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “and judge you as your conduct deserves.”

And I will punish you for all your abominations is literally “and I will place upon you all your abominations.” God leaves the sins of the people on the land, and the consequences of those sins automatically result in punishment. Your abominations refers to the disgusting things the people did, especially their worship of idols (see the comments on 5.9). Translators may render this clause as “and I will hold you responsible for all your disgusting acts.”

Two models for this verse are:

• Now, land of Israel, things are over for you, and you will feel the force of my anger. I will judge you as your behavior deserves, and I will hold you responsible for all the things you did that I hate.

• Now it is the end for you, land of Israel. I am very angry with you. Your people have done evil, so I am going to punish you. They have disobeyed me and worshiped false gods, so I will make you suffer for this.

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 .