bear child / give birth

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bear (a child)” or “give birth to” is translated in Mairasi as “go to the forest,” reflecting the traditional place of childbirth for Mairasi women. (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

In Spanish it is translated as dar a luz, literally “to give to light.” Likewise, in Portuguese (dar à luz) and Italian (dare alla luce). (Source: Mark Terwilliger)

See also in childbirth / travail and birth.

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Isaiah 23:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 23:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “Hold your mouth, oh, Sidon,
    the city of the ocean!
    The ocean said,
    ‘Oh, you city of the ocean,
    I am like one who has never born a child.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Be ashamed, O Sidon, you [lit.: that] fortress located near the sea.
    for the sea has spoken like this,
    "I have neither had the pain of childbirth, nor have I given birth to a child.
    I have neither brought up a son, [lit.: caused a son to grow up] nor have I brought up daughters." [lit.: made daughters big]” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) be-ashamed, city of Sidon, the place-of-refuge of the people who dwell near the sea. The seas are-rejecting you (sing.) now saying, ‘I do not have a child anymore; I do not have a male or female child to take-care-of.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But now you people in Sidon should be ashamed,
    because you trusted in Tyre, which has been a strong fortress on an island in the sea.
    Tyre is like a woman who is saying,
    ‘Now it is as though I have not given birth to any children,
    or raised any sons or daughters.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 23:4

Be ashamed, O Sidon: The imperative verb Be ashamed calls on Sidon’s inhabitants to feel shame (see the comments on 1.29, where the same Hebrew verb is used).

For the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying …: Revised English Bible omits these words and has the people of Sidon speaking instead of the sea. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project strongly recommends keeping them. The connector for introduces the reason why the people of Sidon should feel shame. The Hebrew word yam rendered the sea does not have a definite article, so it seems to be a proper noun. It could possibly be the name of the sea god, Yam, who was the bride of the Phoenician people in Canaanite mythology (so FRCL footnote|prj:FRC97.Isa 23.4). The meaning of the stronghold of the sea is unclear. Revised Standard Version takes this phrase to be an additional reference to the sea. Good News Translation is similar with “the great ocean depths.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch believes this phrase is parallel to O Sidon, referring to Tyre, so it says “Tyre, you rock fortress at the sea” (similarly New International Version, but without making Tyre explicit). This phrase most likely refers to Sidon itself, a fortress by the sea (so Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible) The Hebrew word rendered stronghold refers to a place of refuge, so whole phrase may be translated “the place that provides refuge from the sea.” See 17.9, where the same word is translated “strong cities.”

I have neither travailed nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up virgins: These words of the sea are puzzling, but they most likely mean the sea is disowning the people of Sidon as its children. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch expresses this sense with “I don’t have children anymore, it is as if I didn’t give birth to you. Yet you were my sons and daughters, I raised you” (similarly Good News Translation). The prophet uses four short negative clauses to emphasize what the sea said. In Hebrew the negative particle loʾ (“not”) is used three times, and the first person singular suffix -ti occurs on each of the four verbs. These features form a very forceful statement. The Hebrew verb rendered travailed is literally “danced” or “writhed [in pain].” It refers to a woman in labor (see 13.8). That process is completed when she has given birth. The verbs reared and brought up both refer to the raising of children (see 1.2, where both verbs also occur). The Hebrew noun rendered young men refers to males in the prime of life; see the comments on this noun at 9.17. The Hebrew word for virgins points to unmarried girls. It may be rendered “young women.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Feel your shame, O [town of] Sidon, stronghold/refuge near the sea,
for the sea has disowned you, saying:
“I no longer feel the pain of childbirth, I no longer have children;
no longer do I raise young men or bring up young women.”*

• Acknowledge the shame, O Sidon, fortress by the sea,
because the sea disowns you, saying:
“I no more experience the pain of childbirth,
I have no children;
I have no boys to raise,
no girls to bring up.”*

* The meaning of this figurative statement by the sea is unclear. Instead of disowning Sidon, the sea may be expressing regret here. It is sorry that it can no longer support maritime trade because of the destruction of Sidon.

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 .