gentiles / nations

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo (Dinė)) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).

Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), “other ethnic groups” (source: Newari Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).

In Chichewa, it is translated with mitundu or “races.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also nations.

complete verse (Hosea 8:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Hosea 8:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Other communities will swallow Israel.
    The land will be like a pot that broke to become useless.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Israel has been swallowed up,
    and has become like a useless thing
    in the midst of the nations.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Its-as-if Israel is-being-devoured by other nations. And now that she is- already -mixed with them, she became like an equipment/something-for-use that (is) without value.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The people of Israel will be defeated by their enemies;
    they will be scattered among other nations and become worthless.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Hosea 8:8

There are at least four ways in which this verse has been interpreted:

(1) The first and most obvious way is to give full weight to the verb is swallowed up and the adverb already as indicating that the conquest and exile of Israel had already begun. This was the invasion that occurred about 733 B.C. by Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, who seized part of Israel and took some of its inhabitants captive (2 Kgs 15.29). Then part of Israel was swallowed up and some of its inhabitants were scattered among the nations (however, see the comments below).

(2) A second way is to interpret the verse as a prediction, but this interpretation does not agree with the adverb already.

(3) A third way is to soften the expressions, as in Good News Translation, which omits is swallowed up and interprets They are among the nations as “Israel has become like any other nation.” This interpretation does not do justice to the Hebrew.

(4) A fourth way is to interpret the Hebrew verb for is swallowed up as “is bewildered” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but this interpretation is made unlikely by the occurrence of the same verb in verse 7, where it clearly means “devour” (Revised Standard Version).

We prefer the first interpretation. It fits well with the general emphasis on Israel’s infidelity, in this case exemplified by Israel’s inconsistent foreign policy, wandering from one ally to the other. The next verse reinforces this interpretation.

Israel is swallowed up: This verse begins with the same Hebrew verb that ends the previous verse, where it is rendered “devour.” It is typical of prophetic speech that the end of one section of discourse is tied to the beginning of the next one by means of such a repetition of “catchwords.” Some scholars therefore suggest that there is a minor break in the discourse structure here, but we prefer to follow the Hebrew chiastic pattern here without a break. In any case, translators should use the same or similar verbs for this line and the previous one to show the coherence between the two verses (unlike Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation). New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible use the verb “swallow” in both verses. In many languages such repetition strengthens the poetic nature of the passage.

Already they are among the nations as a useless vessel: This statement may be typical of prophetic speech, where the future is sometimes described as having already happened. However, here it seems to reflect the Israelites’ actual situation of being powerless, although it may also imply the opinion other nations now have of Israel. The expression does not primarily speak of their being scattered among the nations.

The Hebrew expression for a useless vessel is also found in Jer 22.28, where it is rendered “a vessel no one cares for.” The Hebrew is literally “a vessel in which there is no pleasure,” which means “a vessel that has no value.” Good News Translation says “a broken pot,” referring to a clay pot that is broken and therefore useless (compare Psa 2.8-9). Here this figure means the Israelites’ status or reputation in the world is insignificant. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch‘s nonfigurative rendering may be useful: “Her role among the nations has been played out [or, is exhausted].” Another nonfigurative option is “Nobody takes them seriously” (Bijbel in Gewone Taal).

A translation model for this verse is:

• Israel is gobbled up,
powerless among the nations,
useless like broken pottery.

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 .