complete verse (Isaiah 21:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 21:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “You people from the land of Tema,
    bring/give water to the people who are fleeing.
    Give food to these people who are fleeing to you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Bring water for the ones who are thirsty!
    O people who live in Tema,
    Bring food for the ones who come to take shelter!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “you (plur.) give water to those (who) are-thirsty. You (plur.) who live/dwells in Tema, you (plur.) give food to the people who have-fled from their place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And you people who live in Tema city in northwest Arabia,
    must bring food for the refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 21:14

To the thirsty bring water, meet the fugitive with bread …: These two lines are parallel, so the thirsty people are also the fugitive(s). It is not clear who these thirsty fugitives are, or from whom they are fleeing. Revised Standard Version gives the impression that the refugees are the Dedanites, hiding in the bushes (verse 13). They could be fleeing from the people of Kedar, or maybe from the Assyrians. Good News Translation refers to unnamed people, fleeing from a war. For Revised Standard Version the people of Tema are to provide both water and food (bread) to the refugees. For Good News Translation the people of Dedan are to bring the water, while the people of Tema bring the food. For more on these issues, see the introductory comments on this section [21.13-17] and verse 13.

O inhabitants of the land of Tema: Tema was a town in northwest Arabia. People from this town are addressed directly here.

Two translation examples are given for this verse. The first one follows the interpretation in Revised Standard Version and the second one reflects Good News Translation.

• Bring water to those who are thirsty,
provide food for the fugitives,
you who dwell in Tema.

• … take water to the thirsty!
You who live in the land of Tema,
meet the fugitives with food!

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 .