in need / none / have nothing / lacking

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “in need,” “none,” “have nothing,” “lacking” or similar in English is translated in the Catholic Mandarin Chinese Sigao version and the Protestant Union Version with a historical Chinese idiom: yīwú suǒyǒu (一無所有 / 一无所有) or “nothing at all.”

In 2 Corinthians 6:10 the idiom above is juxtaposed with yet another historical idiom: wúsuǒ bùyǒu (無所不有 / 无所不有) or “everything that can be had.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

complete verse (Isaiah 15:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 15:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “Also the river of Nimrim has dried up,
    and even the grass that is near there have withered.
    and the bushes at the bank are dried,
    and there is nothing green that is left.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The waters of Nimrim have dried up,
    the grass nearby
    has shriveled up,
    and it is no longer green.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The stream of Nimrim became-dry and the grass is-withered. No more plant that grows.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The water in Nimrim Valley will have dried up.
    The grass there will be withered;
    the green plants will all be gone,
    and there will be nothing left that is green.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 15:6

Here the land appears to be in mourning over what happened to the Moabites. The meaning of this verse is clear, but it is not evident how it relates to the devastation in the previous verses. Did the enemy cause the dried up waters and dead plants? Or was it due to a lack of rain? Or did the fleeing Moabites and their cattle do this? Translators should be able to render this verse without clarifying the cause of this natural disaster.

This verse begins with the Hebrew particle ki. As in the previous verse, it stresses the reality of what happened, so it may be rendered “Indeed.” However, most translations ignore its presence.

The waters of Nimrim are a desolation: The waters of Nimrim may refer to the brook on the southeast corner of the Dead Sea, on the border with Edom. The Hebrew word rendered desolation usually describes what has been ruined or destroyed by human or natural means. It is unusual to apply this word to water, so we suggest that the waters of Nimrim refers to the valley or the oasis of Nimrim. An oasis is an area in the middle of a desert, watered by a spring. For these two lines we can say “The oasis of Nimrim has been left desolate” (similarly Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Contemporary English Version provides an alternative with “The streams of Nimrim … have dried up” (similarly Good News Translation).

The next three clauses in this verse describe more fully what happened to the land. As noted elsewhere, Isaiah often piles up three or more synonymous expressions to picture a scene.

The grass is withered means the grass dried up. Bible en français courant has “the plants dried out.”

The new growth fails: New plant growth died off also. The Hebrew word rendered fails means “is at an end,” which suggests an early end to any new growth. Bible en français courant says “fresh/green grass has disappeared.”

The verdure is no more: Verdure is an old English word for flourishing, green growth, whether of grass or plants. This line states there is no more of it. New Jerusalem Bible suggests “nothing green any more,” and Revised English Bible has “not a green thing is left.”

Translation suggestions for this verse are:

• The waters of Nimrim have dried up; the grass has withered, new growth dies, nothing green exists.

• The Nimrim Oasis is a desolate waste; the grass has withered, all new growth has ceased, there is no lushness anymore.

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 .