forget

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “forget” in English is translated in Noongar as dwangka-anbangbat, lit. “ear-lose.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also remember and forget (Japanese honorifics).

prostitute

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The Greek, Latin, and Hebrew that is typically translated as “prostitute” in English (in some, mostly earlier translation also as “harlot” or “whore”) is translated in the 2024 revision of the inter-confessional Latvian Jauna Pārstrādāta latviešu Bībele as netikle or “hussy.” This replaced the previous translation mauka or “whore.” Nikita Andrejevs, editor of the Bible explains the previous and current translations: “The translators at the time felt that this strong word best described the thought contained in the main text. Many had objections, as it seemed that this word would not be the most appropriate for public reading in church.” (Source: Updated Bible published in Latvia ).

Other translations include:

  • Bariai: “a woman of the road” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “a woman who sells her body” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Uma: “a woman whose behavior is not appropriate” or “a loose woman” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “a bad woman” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “a woman who make money through their reputation” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “a woman who makes money with her body” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “a woman whose womanhood is repeatedly-bought” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

See also Translation commentary on Genesis 34:31, Rahab, and prostitute oneself / play the prostitute.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Prostitution in the Bible .

complete verse (Isaiah 23:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 23:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Oh please, you prostitute who was forgotten!
    Take hold of your lyre and go around the city.
    Prepare the throat well,
    and sing many songs
    so that then you shall be remembered.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O forgotten prostitute, take a harp
    and go to the middle of the city.
    Play the harp, sing many songs,
    [it] will make [them] remember you again.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore take your (sing.) harp, and play this well while you (sing.) go-around the city. Make- your (sing.) song -many, so-that you (sing.) will-be-remembered.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘You harlot, whom people had forgotten,
    play your harp well,
    and sing many songs,
    in order that people will remember you again.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 23:16

These are words from a popular song at that time. The prophet applies them to Tyre’s future when she will engage in trade again, and so regain her lost reputation as a center of commerce. Revised Standard Version sets off the song by using poetic format and double quote marks, but Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version only have poetic format.

Take a harp, go about the city, O forgotten harlot: Harlots at that time were often musicians. Here the song calls on the harlot to play her harp. The verb Take implies “Take up and play.” For harp see 5.12. Go about the city pictures the harlot as a wandering minstrel, entertaining people. O forgotten harlot picks up the theme of being forgotten from the previous verse. Tyre as the harlot is told to regain her reputation by drawing attention to herself. New International Version says “O prostitute forgotten.” Another possibility is “you prostitute whom everyone has forgotten.”

Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered: The harlot is urged to play her instrument well to produce a pleasant tune. She is also called on to sing a lot of songs. That you may be remembered is the purpose for doing these things. She is told to play music and sing, so that people will take notice of her and remember her again. The last line may be rendered with an active verb by saying “so that people will remember you.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “Take your harp and go about the city,
you harlot whose reputation has gone!
Play your harp beautifully,
sing many songs,
so that people will remember you once more!”

• “O prostitute whom all have forgotten,
take up your harp and go about the city,
playing sweetly and singing many songs.
That way you will be remembered again.”

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 .