idol / idols

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “idol(s)” in English is translated in Central Subanen as ledawan or “images.” (Source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )

In German, typically the term Götze is used. Originally this was used as a term of endearment for Gott (“God” — see here ), later for “icon” and “image, likeness.” Luther started to use it in the 16th century in the meaning of “false god, idol.”

Other terms that are used in German include Götzenbild(er) (“image[s] of idols”) or Bildnis (“image” — Protestant) / Kultbild (“cultish image” — Catholic) (used for instance in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8). The latest revision of the Catholic Einheitsübersetzung (publ. 2016) also uses the neologism Nichtse (“nothings”) in 1 Chron. 16:26 and Psalm 96:5. (Source: Zetzsche)

See also worthless idols.

complete verse (Isaiah 30:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 30:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “You shall destroy your idols
    those made from silver and gold.
    You shall throw them far away like things that smell bad
    while saying,
    ‘Go away until you have gone completely.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Your golden idols and the gods, carved with a chisel and covered with silver, you will make unclean. To them you will throw away the cloth of menstruation [lit.: the cloth of the time when it is not OK to touch] and will speak to it like this, "You go over there!"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) will-defile your (plur.) small-gods, which are over-laid/coated with silver and gold. You (plur.) will-throw them as if a dirty cloth and will-say, ‘I do not want to see you (plur.)!’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When that happens, you will destroy all your idols that are covered with silver or gold. You will throw them away like you throw away a filthy rag, and you will say to them, ‘We do not need you any more!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 30:22

Then renders the Hebrew conjunction that is literally “And.” Here it introduces the result of staying on the correct path.

You will defile your silver-covered graven images and your gold-plated molten images: The Hebrew verb translated defile comes from a root meaning “unclean,” so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders it “treat as unclean” (similarly Revised English Bible). Here it means the people will no longer have anything to do with their idols, so it may be rendered “reject.” Images were physical representations of the gods or of the things that symbolized the gods; for example, a bull was the image that represented the Canaanite god Baal. In English images is better rendered “idols” (Good News Translation) here since the word “image” has a wide semantic range. The silver-covered graven images were idols carved out of wood and covered with silver (see 10.10). The gold-plated molten images were idols made of metal and covered with gold. The point of this clause is not to give a description of how idols were made and covered, but to indicate that all idols, whether made of wood or metal, whether covered with silver or gold, will be rejected.

You will scatter them as unclean things: This implies the idols will be broken into pieces and scattered as something filthy. Revised English Bible emends the Hebrew text to read “loathe” instead of scatter, but Hebrew Old Testament Text Project does not recommend this. The Hebrew word rendered unclean things refers to a menstruating woman in Lev 15.33 and 20.18, so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates it “a menstruous woman” here. New International Version is similar with “a menstrual cloth,” and so is Revised English Bible with “a foul discharge.” Menstruating women were considered unclean for the seven days of their monthly period. They were separated from the community during that time, since contact with them would make a person ritually unclean (see Lev 15.19-24). Since a menstruating woman was considered unclean, it is acceptable to render this whole clause as “You will throw them away like something unclean.”

You will say to them, “Begone!”: By throwing out the idols, the people are telling them figuratively to go away. Begone means that they no longer want them. This fits the context quite well. Revised English Bible reads the Hebrew imperative verb tseʾ (Begone) as tsoʾ (“excrement”), which follows a Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia suggestion and the Septuagint. For the whole clause it has “and call them filth.” This rendering provides a better parallel with the previous clause. Another way to say this is “you will regard them as filth.” If translators choose this reading, they should add a footnote giving the alternative one.

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• And you will reject your images with their silver and gold coverings. You will throw them away like something unclean; you will regard them as filth.

• And you will reject your images that you have covered with silver and gold. You will abandon them like some unclean thing, telling them, “Go away!”

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 .