dancing, shaking, trembling

The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone njenjenje (“shake-shake”) to emphasize movements like trembling, dancing, or shaking in these verses. (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 105)

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (Isaiah 4:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 4:15:

  • English: “Yahweh will get rid of a huge number of people;
    and he will humble many more people who now are proud/arrogant.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Isaiah 41:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 41:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “Distant lands have seen these matters and are afraid.
    The people of faraway are trembling.
    Those people are gathering
    preparing for battle.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Seeing this, the islands were very much afraid.
    The distant lands of the earth trembled.
    They came near.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘The people in the far places, even to the farthest part of the world, have-seen my deeds, and they shook with fear. They gathered,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 41:5

The coastal nations respond with fear and awe to God’s actions through Cyrus. In verses 1-4 God addressed these nations, but in verses 5-7 he speaks about them.

The coastlands have seen and are afraid: For coastlands see the comments on Isa 41.1. Good News Translation clarifies that “The people” of these distant countries are in view here (similarly Bible en français courant), which may be helpful for other languages. The verb have seen does not have an object, but if languages need to provide one, Good News Translation provides a good model by saying “have seen what I have done.” Bible en français courant says “have seen it,” referring back to God’s actions in verses 2-4. The Hebrew verb rendered are afraid often has the sense of “to worship” or “to be in awe” (see the comments on 25.3, where it is translated “fear”). In this context there is both fear and awe, so a better rendering for this verb is “are in awe.” The coastal nations fear the advance of Cyrus’ army and they are in awe of Yahweh’s power behind him.

The ends of the earth tremble is parallel to the previous line. For the ends of the earth, see the comments on 5.26 and 40.28. It may be rendered “the whole world.” The Hebrew verb rendered tremble is similar to the one for are afraid since it also can refer to both fear and awe (see 66.2; Ezra 9.4). Good News Translation says “tremble with fear,” but another possibility is “tremble with awe.”

They have drawn near and come: The people of the earth come together because of their fear and awe. The verbs drawn near and come do not specify their destination but imply that the people gather together for mutual support. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides a helpful model for this line, saying “they set out and came together.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• “Those who live along the distant coasts have seen it and are in awe,
all the people of the universe tremble in fear;
they draw near, they come together.

• “People from distant lands have seen what I have done and are in awe,
all the people of the world tremble.
They assemble and gather together.

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 .