The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the HausaCommon Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.
Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Description: The drum consisted of a membrane, usually of animal skin, which was stretched over a shallow circular, triangular, or square frame.
Usage: The drum was struck sharply with one or two hands, depending on where it was situated. It could be held in the left hand, under the left arm, or against the chest and struck with the right hand, or it could be held on the knees or the ground and struck with one or two hands. The fingers of the left hand could be used to tighten or loosen the tension on the membrane as it was struck with the palm of the right hand.
Translation: The use of the Hebrew word tof is usually associated with singing, processions, and festivals. Archaeological evidence indicates that drums with metal circlets on the frame (“tambourines” or “timbrels”) were not known in biblical times. As a general rule, the best translation for this word will be “hand drum” or simply “drum.”
Lyre (source: Knowles, revised by Bass (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1994)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 24:8:
Kupsabiny: “The happiness of tambourines shall no longer be present. The noise of feasts shall cease and there is no enjoyment of lyres.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Their joy-filled music [of the] harp and drum has ceased. The pleasant sound of the singing of songs has ceased.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “and the merry sound of the tambourines and harps, and the rejoicing of the people who celebrate will- no-longer -be-heard.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
The three parallel lines in this verse describe the absence of music and celebration.
The mirth of the timbrels is stilled: A timbrel is a musical instrument like a tambourine (see the comments at 5.12). Its mirth refers to the happy and cheerful sound it makes when played. This cheery sound is now stilled. The Hebrew verb rendered is stilled comes from a root meaning “to rest.” This line is a poetic way of saying that nobody is playing the tambourine anymore, so there is no singing or dancing.
The noise of the jubilant has ceased is literally “the roar of the exulting ones has ceased.” For noise see 13.4, where the same Hebrew word is rendered “uproar.” Here it is a noise of celebration since the jubilant made it. The jubilant refers to people who enjoy parties (see 22.2, where the same Hebrew word is rendered “exultant”). For this whole line Bible en français courant has “the noise of people feasting has disappeared.”
The mirth of the lyre is stilled: This line is exactly the same as the first line except for the name of the instrument. For lyre see the comments at 5.12. This singular noun has a plural sense here.
Translation examples for this verse are:
• The happy sound of the tambourines has stopped,
the joyful noise of the revelers has ceased,
the happy sound of the harps has stopped.
• The cheerful sound of the tambourines is no longer heard,
the delighted shout of people celebrating has stopped,
the cheerful sound of the harps is no longer heard.
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.