untranslatable verses

The Swedish Bibel 2000 declared the 69 Old Testament verses referenced herein as “untranslatable.” Typically, other Bible translations translate those verses and mention in footnotes that the translation is uncertain or give alternate readings. Christer Åsberg, the Translation Secretary with the Swedish Bible Society at that time, explains why the Swedish Bible Society decided to not translate these verses at all (in The Bible Translator 2007, p. 1ff. ):

“In the new Swedish translation (SB) of 2000, [some verses are] not translated at all; [they are] indicated with three hyphens inside square brackets [- - -] [with a] reference to the appendix, where in the article ‘Text’ one will find a paragraph with roughly the following content:

In some cases the text is unintelligible and the variant readings differing to such an extent, that it is quite impossible to attain a reasonable certainty of what is meant, although some isolated word may occur, whose meaning it is possible to understand.

“If Bible translators find the Hebrew text untranslatable, what kind of text is it that they have produced in the translation into their own language? When a footnote says ‘The Hebrew is not understandable,’ what then is the printed text a translation of? And if the translators prefer to do without footnotes, are they then really released from the responsibility of informing their readers that the text they read is just mere guesswork?

“To leave a blank space in a Bible text seems to be an offensive act for many. (. . . ) To admit that a piece of Holy Scripture makes no sense at all may have been unimaginable in times past. In our enlightened era, an overprotective concern for the readers’ trust in the word of God is apparently a decisive factor when a translator tries to translate against all odds. The verdict ‘untranslatable’ is much more frequent in scholarly commentaries on different Bible books written by and for experts than in the translations or footnotes of the same books designed for common readers.

“Another reason (. . .) is a professional, and very human, reluctance to admit a failure. Also, many Bible translators lack translational experience of other literary genres and other classical texts where this kind of capitulation is a part of the daily run of things. They may have an innate or subconscious feeling that the Bible has unique qualities not only as a religious document but also as a linguistic and literary artifact. Completeness is felt to be proof of perfection. Some translators, and not so few of their clients, are unfamiliar with a scholarly approach to philological and exegetical matters. In some cases their background have made them immune to a kind of interpretative approximation common in older translations, confessional commentaries, and sermons. Therefore, their tolerance towards lexical, grammatical, and syntactical anomalies tends to be comparatively great.

“It is very hard to discern and to define the boundary between something that is extremely difficult and something that is quite impossible. I am convinced that all Bible translators in their heart of hearts will admit that there actually are some definitely untranslatable passages in the Bible, but are there a dozen of them or a score? Are there fifty or a hundred? Not even a group of recognized experts would probably pick out the same ten most obvious cases. (. . .)

“Conclusions:

  1. There are untranslatable passages in the Bible.
  2. How many they are is impossible to say—except for the translation team that decides which passages are untranslatable.
  3. An untranslatable passage cannot and should therefore not be translated.
  4. The lacuna should be marked in a consistent way.
  5. The translating team should stipulate their criteria for untranslatability as early as possible.
  6. It is an ethical imperative that the readers be comprehensively informed.
  7. Untranslatability has been and can be displayed in many different ways.
  8. An explanatory note should not confuse linguistic untranslatability with other kinds of textual or translational difficulties.
  9. The information given should make it clear that the translators’ recognition of untranslatability is a token of respect for the Bible, not a proof of depreciation.
  10. You shall not fear the void, but the fear of the void.”

With thanks to Mikael Winninge, Director of Translation, Swedish Bible Society

complete verse (Hosea 12:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Hosea 12:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people of Gilead are doing sins
    so they shall perish.
    (They) slaughtered bulls to make sacrifices from them in Gilgal,
    but that place of sacrifices shall be like
    stones that are piled up in a farm.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Is Gilead evil?
    Its people are worthless!
    Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?
    Their altars will be like stones gathered
    in a plowed field.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But still the people of Gilead (were) wicked and had no value at-all, and the people of Gilgal offer bulls to little-gods. Very surely their altars will-be-destroyed and they will-become like piles of stones which were-taken from the plowed ground.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The people of Gilead city are extremely wicked;
    they are worthless.
    The people sacrifice bulls in Gilgal city,
    but their altars will soon become like piles of stone at the edge of a plowed field.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Hosea 12:11

This verse speaks of the sins of Gilead and Gilgal. It seems possible that the two places are mentioned together because of their similar sounds. Translators should remember that, in Hebrew poetic lines, the second set of lines often makes the message more clear, more specific, or more intense. So what is said of Gilead in a general way becomes stronger and clearer when Gilgal is mentioned. This does not mean that Gilgal will suffer more than Gilead, but it is implied that similar things will happen to Gilead as well. Some modern translations try to make this clear with meaningful equivalents, while others simply choose more literal equivalents.

Gilead was an area on the east side of the Jordan River. During the time of Hosea it was known for its wickedness and bloodshed (see 6.8). Gilgal was a small town just west of the Jordan. It was the first place the Israelites entered during the conquest of the Promised Land. It later became a center of cultic and illegitimate worship (see 4.15; 9.15; see also Amos 4.4; 5.5).

If there is iniquity in Gilead: The Hebrew word for If can mean “Although” or even “Because.” Here it is better rendered “Because” or “Since.” The Hebrew word for iniquity can have several meanings. Three of these meanings fit this context:

(1) “Iniquity/injustice”: This sense fits the context. There is no doubt that iniquity existed in Gilead (see 6.8). Apart from that, iniquity can be seen as a generic explanation of the problem, while the parallel structure in the second half of the verse describes the explicit part, namely pagan sacrifices. Many versions opt for this sense (for example, Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New International Version).

(2) “Nothingness/deception”: New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh chooses this sense, saying “As for Gilead, it is worthless.” This translation forms a good parallel with the next line: “it shall come to nothing.”

(3) “False, idolatrous cult”: This sense is chosen by Good News Translation, which says “Yet idols are worshiped in Gilead.” NET Bible is similar with “Is there idolatry in Gilead?” Since the last lines of this verse talk about pagan worship in Gilgal, this option too suits the context well.

We advise translators to choose the option that suits the receptor culture best. The existence of other translations in the area where the receptor language is spoken may have an impact on the final decision.

They shall surely come to nought: The Hebrew word for nought refers to complete emptiness, lack of worth, no value, and this includes the idea of sinfulness, wrong, even death eventually. Good News Translation makes this last idea specific, saying “those … will die.” This Hebrew word has connotations of destruction. The pronoun they refers to the people of Israel, so they are the ones who will be destroyed.

If in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls is literally “in the Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.” Revised Standard Version adds the word if to introduce this line in the same way as the first line, since the messages against the two places are parallel.

They sacrifice bulls implies sacrificing these animals to other gods in Gilgal. Bijbel in Gewone Taal makes this explicit by saying “you offered sacrifices to the idols.” Revised English Bible has “sacrificed to bull-gods,” but the Hebrew text does not provide enough support for such a rendering. The Hebrew word for bulls is a general word for any mature bull or cow, but male cattle are in view here.

Their altars also shall be like stone heaps on the furrows of the field: The word also implies that this punishment will happen first in Gilead, even though it is not mentioned in the first two lines.

Altars were normally built of large stones made to fit together, and the top held the fire on which the sacrifice was burned (see comments on 8.11). This prophecy states that the stones would be torn apart and scattered in heaps on the fields where crops should be planted. The fields were plowed with furrows into which seeds would normally be planted for growing crops. With the altar stones filling those spaces, no crops could be planted. This then was to be part of the punishment for idol worship. So it is clear that the field refers to agricultural land. For the furrows of the field, see 10.4.

The text does not say who will tear the stone altars apart. We must assume that an enemy host will invade and do these things. However, this is not mentioned in the Hebrew text.

A translation model for this verse is:

• Since there is wickedness in Gilead,
its people will be wiped out.
They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal,
so their altars will also become stone heaps
scattered on the farmlands.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 12:11

12:11

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

11a Is there iniquity in Gilead ?

11b They will surely come to nothing.

11c Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal ?

11d Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

Gilead and Gilgal are locations. Here they are probably figures of speech that represent the entire northern kingdom of Israel. They may be an example of the kind of parable or figure of speech that 12:10 describes.

Here are three possible purposes for the verse:

(a) to show the great extent of wickedness in Israel

(b) to return to the main theme of this chapter, deceit and lying

(c) to demonstrate the use of wordplays, which were part of the way God proclaimed his judgment

12:11a–b

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing: In Hebrew, these clauses are more literally “if Gilead [is] wickedness surely they are worthlessness.” Here are some acceptable ways to translate the clauses:

• As a rhetorical question followed by a response. The implied answer in the response is “yes.” For example:

Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are worthless. (New American Standard Bible)

• As a conditional clause followed by a conclusion. The implicit understanding is that the condition is true. For example:

If there is iniquity in Gilead they shall surely come to nothing. (English Standard Version)

• As statements. For example:

The people of Gilead are evil, worth nothing. (New Century Version)

Translate these clauses in a natural way in your language.

iniquity: In Hebrew, this word has a broad range of meaning that includes “idolatry,” “wickedness,” iniquity, “emptiness.” The same word is used in the second part of the name Beth-aven, “house of wickedness.” See 4:15b.

Some versions translate the word here as “idolatry.” That translation is not recommended, because it limits its meaning. It is likely that Hosea’s use of the word here had a broader sense. Hosea uses the same word to refer to the people of Gilead in 6:8. There the word is associated with bloodshed, not specifically with idolatry.

Gilead: Gilead is the region in the northern kingdom of Israel located east of the river Jordan. The region includes land and cities belonging to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. By the time of Hosea, Gilead was known to be a place of evil.

They will surely come to nothing: The Hebrew word for nothing here means “emptiness,” “vanity,” “falsehood.” It designates something that is worthless either physically or morally. In Hebrew, the preceding word surely emphasizes how worthless the people were.

There are two main interpretations of the time reference of this clause:

(1) The people of Gilead were worthless at that time. For example:

They are worthless (God’s Word)

(2) The people of Gilead will become worthless in the future. They will be destroyed. For example:

they shall surely come to nothing (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions. The Hebrew clause is an appropriate description of the people of Gilead at that time. See Hosea 6:8.

12:11c

Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The Masoretic Text has “bulls they have sacrificed.” For example:

In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls (English Standard Version)

(2) Some scholars think the original text had “to bulls they have sacrificed.” For example:

At Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. Option (2) lacks support from ancient texts or versions.

The sacrifice of bulls probably refers to pagan sacrifices.

The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions that translate 11a as a rhetorical question also translate 11c as a rhetorical question. This is not recommended. A rhetorical question is not indicated in the Hebrew text.

Gilgal: Gilgal is a city in the northern kingdom of Israel located west of the river Jordan. It was a major center of idolatry. See 4:15b.

12:11d

Indeed: In Hebrew, this clause starts with a word that has various possible meanings. A basic meaning that fits the context here is “also/moreover.” Here it introduces the altars as a further description of the sacrificing of bulls in 11c. For example:

The altars of these are also like stone heaps upon a plowed field. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-

Yes, their altars are like the stone heaps beside the furrows of the field.

their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field: This sentence describes the altars on which the people sacrificed bulls. It compares the altars to stone piles in fields. There are two main interpretations of the time reference:

(1) This sentence describes the altars as they were at that time. For example:

Their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. (English Standard Version)
#
(2) This sentence describes the altars as they will be in the future. It predicts that they will be destroyed. For example:

But their altars will become like piles of rubble beside a plowed field. (God’s Word)

The Display will follow interpretation (1), but you may follow either interpretation. In Hebrew, there is no explicit time reference, because this clause has no verb. Both interpretations fit the context of the passage.

The phrase heaps of stones in the furrows of the field may refer to stones that a farmer removes from his field to allow for plowing. The comparison, however, does not make explicit the way in which the altars are like these piles of stones. Here are some possibilities:

• The altars are/will be as numerous as the piles of stones.

• The altars are/will be as worthless as the piles of stones.

• The altars are/will be obstacles like the piles of stones that must be removed to allow for growth and harvesting.

Most versions leave the point of comparison implied. However, you may include these possibilities in the translation or in a footnote if think it will be helpful.

© 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.