Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 47:3:
Kupsabiny: “You shall flee naked and be shamed while all people watch you. I avenge the evil and there is no one I shall have mercy on.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “People will see your nakedness, and your shame will also be seen. I will take revenge, I will not spare anyone."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Your (sing.) nakedness will-be-exposed and you (sing.) will-be-put-to-shame. I will-take-vengeance on you (sing.) and I will- not -show- compassion on you (sing.).’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your shame shall be seen: Further humiliation is described in this verse. It also carries sexual overtones. The Hebrew word for nakedness refers to the female genital region. This too will be uncovered, which renders the same Hebrew verb translated “put off” and “uncover” in the previous verse. The abstract expression Your nakedness shall be uncovered may be rendered simply “You will go naked,” if it implies disgrace and humiliation. Your shame shall be seen means the woman will be thoroughly ashamed at being seen nude. It will be a disgrace to her. In the Semitic tradition it was shameful thing for a woman to be naked, especially in public (compare verse 2). It would bring disgrace not only on her but also on her family, especially her husband. See Lev 20.17-21 for examples of Israel’s laws that include references to seeing and uncovering a woman’s nakedness. For languages that require active verb forms in place of the passive ones, Good News Translation provides a helpful model for the first two lines of this verse with “People will see you naked; they will see you humbled and shamed.” Good News Translation makes it clear that Babylonia, represented by the woman, will be thoroughly humiliated and disgraced.
I will take vengeance: Yahweh says this to bring comfort to those Israelites still awaiting rescue from Babylonia. It expresses his overall response to the situation in Babylonia. It is an independent affirmation that may be seen as a summary statement. God’s words in verses 1-2 about Babylonia’s humiliation may be viewed as indicating the way in which he will take vengeance on that nation for taking the people of Israel captive. For vengeance as an act of Yahweh, see the comments on 34.8 and 35.4. His vengeance does not mean he gets revenge, but he hands out an appropriate punishment to bring justice. Especially in cultures where taking revenge is considered an immoral activity, a possible rendering for this line is “I will mete out just punishment.”
And I will spare no man renders the Hebrew text of Masoretic Text, supported by Dead Sea Scrolls, which is difficult to interpret. It is literally “and I will not meet a man.” The view that the Hebrew verb here means spare is a common one among scholars. Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version reflect this view, and so does Revised English Bible, which translates this line as “and show clemency to none.” Another possible interpretation of this line in Hebrew is “I will meet nobody [who could oppose my taking vengeance on Babylon]” (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project alternative), which means nobody through intercession will be able to prevent Yahweh from doing as he planned. This seems the most common rendering adopted in translations; for example, Good News Translation has “and no one will stop me,” New Jerusalem Bible says “and no one will stand in my way,” and New American Bible uses “I will yield to no entreaty.”
Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch mark verse 3 as the end of the LORD’s speech by closing the double quote marks opened in verse 1.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• Your nakedness will be seen,
and you will be in disgrace.
I will take vengeance,
and I will not give in to any entreaty.”
• People will see your nakedness;
shame will come upon you.
I will avenge you [or, I will make sure that justice is done];
nobody will be able to stop me.
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 .
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