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 (Isaiah 14:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 14:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “These are my plans for the whole world
    and this is the punishment which is coming to the whole world.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “This is my plan for the world,
    and I have lifted my hand to punish the nations.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This is the plan that I am going-to-do to the whole world. This is the punishment I will-show to all the nations.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I have a plan for everyone on the earth,
    a plan to show my power to punish all the nations.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

hand (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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 or み) is used here in mi-te (御手) or “hand (of God).”

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

See also hand of the LORD.

Translation commentary on Isaiah 14:26

Yahweh’s plan now concerns the whole world, not just Assyria and Judah. This is consistent with the prophet’s presentation of Yahweh as Creator of all.

This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth: The prophet is speaking here after quoting Yahweh’s words. Good News Translation closes the quote at the end of this verse instead of the previous verse, but we do not recommend this. The prophet repeats what he heard: God has outlined a task and is determined to carry it out. Since the Hebrew words for purpose and purposed come from the same root as the word for “purposed” in verse 24, this is an emphatic statement. The Hebrew demonstrative translated this, which introduces both halves of this verse, is also used for emphasis.

And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations: The metaphor of Yahweh’s outstretched hand is common in the Old Testament. Its meaning depends on the context. Sometimes it is for punishment (5.25; 9.12, 17, 21; Psa 55.20), and at other times for rescue (Deut 5.15; Psa 136.12). Here it refers to punishment (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). The hand denotes power; here it refers to God’s powerful action. The hand that is stretched out over all the nations means that Yahweh carries out his plans in every nation. Most versions keep the image of the outstretched hand, presuming it is clear enough. However, for these lines Bible en français courant has “and the threat that he directs at all nations.”

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• This is the purpose he has set for the whole world; this is his powerful hand acting among the nations.

• This is his purpose planned for the whole world; this is the power he will demonstrate among the nations.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .