oak

Three species of oak are found in Israel, the main ones being the Tabor oak and the Kermes (or common) oak. Both go by the name ’elon or ’allon in Hebrew. The similarity to the Hebrew word ’el (“god”) is significant, since these trees have long been associated with worship and with burial. Since the Tabor oak is the biggest, it is likely that ’elon and ’allon most often refer to that one. English versions have sometimes mistakenly translated the Hebrew word ’elah (“terebinth”) as “oak.”

According to Hepper (Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, Baker Book House, 1992), forests of Kermes oak (Quercus calliprinos or Quercus coccifera) covered the hill country of Israel from Carmel to Samaria in biblical times. The Kermes oak forest is the most familiar and important type of vegetation in Israel.

The Tabor Oak Quercus macrolepsis (= Quercus aegilops = Quercus ithaburensis = Valonea oak in Israel) apparently replaced the original common oak during the Arab period (800–1400 A.D.), but has itself been nearly destroyed in more recent times by the efforts of charcoal makers, limestone burners, and the Turkish rail-way. Tabor oaks are deciduous and are found mostly in Carmel.

The large Tabor oak reaches a height of 25 meters (82 feet), branching at around 5.5 meters (18 feet). The Kermes oak is more like a large shrub, normally branching at ground level. The Tabor oak loses its leaves every winter; the Kermes oak is evergreen and prickly.

Oaks were used to mark grave sites (see Genesis 35:8), and it is possible that the references to “oak of Moreh” or “oaks of Mamre” may hint at burial sites of famous people. They were probably also important in divination, if the reference in Judges 9:37 (see Translation commentary on Judges 9:37) to a “Diviners’ Oak” can be taken as typical. References to people named Allon (1 Chronicles 4:37) or Elon (Genesis 46:14 et al.) may suggest that the oak was a symbol of strength or beauty, or both.

Oaks grow mainly in temperate areas (Europe, North America, North Asia, and Japan) and the Mediterranean area, including North Africa. Translators in tropical areas will not have a local variety as an option. In historical contexts, therefore, it will be necessary to transliterate from a major language. In poetic contexts such as the prophets, the oak typically represents a large and very strong tree, and a local species with those characteristics can be considered.

Tabor oak, photo by Ray Pritz
Kermes oak, Wikimedia Commons

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

terebinth

The Hebrew words ’elah and ’alah refer to any of three species of terebinth mentioned in the Bible: 1) the Atlantic terebinth Pistacia atlantica, 2) the Palestinian terebinth Pistacia palaestina, and 3) the Lentisk Terebinth Pistacia lentiscus, also called the mastic tree.

According to Zohary (Plants of the Bible, Cambridge University Press, 1982), the Atlantic terebinth, also called the teil tree, is found in the Negev, Lower Galilee, and the Dan Valley. Hepper (Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, Baker Book House, 1992) says it was once abundant in Gilead, the trunk and bark being a possible source for aromatic resin (mastic) exported to Egypt. It is a dry-land tree that grows in the border areas between ever-green woodlands and the dwarf-shrub steppes (note “valley of Elah” in 1 Samuel 17:2 et al.). The nuts of the Atlantic terebinth are used for dyeing and tanning animal skins, but they can be eaten if roasted. They are often sold in Arab markets, are bigger than the nuts of the Palestinian terebinth, and are quite different from the true pistachio nuts.

The Palestinian terebinth is found mostly on wooded hills, often together with the common oak. Its little round nuts can be eaten whole, fresh, or roasted, and it is probably these nuts (boten) that were carried to Egypt by the sons of Jacob (Genesis 43:11).

The lentisk terebinth is a shrub or bush that grew in the hills of Gilead, and may be the source of the “balm/resin” (tsori in Hebrew) carried by the Ishmaelites in Genesis 37:25, and by the sons of Jacob to Egypt along with pistachio nuts in Genesis 43:11. The fact that Genesis 37:25 et al. all mention Gilead in connection with the resin tsori, suggests that its source was a plant unique to Palestine. That is why it could be used to trade for goods from Egypt. The references in Jeremiah (8:22 and 46:11) presumably refer to the salve made from the terebinth resin.

Terebinths look like oaks but have pinnate leaves. The Atlantic terebinth may reach a height of 10 meters (33 feet). The Palestinian terebinth species is shorter, reaching to 5 meters (17 feet). The lentisk terebinth, or mastic (gum) tree, is a small shrub or tree 1-3 meters (3-10 feet) in height that produces a sweet-smelling resin when the stem or branches are cut. The resin dries into hard lumps, which are then ground and dissolved in olive oil for medicinal use, per-fume, incense, varnish, and glue.

Both of the larger terebinths were revered by ancient Israelites and other peoples. They built shrines and altars in the terebinth groves, and sometimes buried people there. The resin of the lentisk terebinth was highly prized for its medicinal value, which is why the Ishmaelites and the sons of Jacob were carrying them as trade goods to Egypt. Sirach 24:16 uses the wide-spreading branches terebinth as a metaphor for wisdom.

Pistacia palaestina, Wikimedia Commons
Pistacia atlantica, Wikimedia Commons
Mastic resin hanging from mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) tree, Wikimedia Commons

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

complete verse (Isaiah 6:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 6:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “Even if a few people may remain in the land,
    their land will again be destroyed.
    Israel will become like an oak that has been felled
    to become a stump.
    A holy branch shall sprout from that stump.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even if only one tenth of the people remain in that land,
    I will destroy them all. But having been cut [down] they have been made like a oak tree stump.
    For this reason, however, the holy seed in that land will be like a stump,
    it will grow again."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Even-if the tenth portion of the Israelinhon remain in the land of Israel, they will-be-destroyed too. But I have-chosen some/[existential marker] from them to-be-left-behind. They are like a stump of an oak/[terebinto] tree that was-cut-down.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If even one tenth of the people survive and stay there,
    their enemies will invade the land again and burn everything.
    But, just like when an oak tree is cut down, a stump is left from which new shoots will grow,
    the people who remain in this land will be a group that will become large again and be set apart for/dedicated to me.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 6:13

This verse continues the picture of devastation, but a ray of hope is added. It has several textual as well as exegetical problems, which are discussed below.

And though a tenth remain in it: And though may be rendered “Even if” (Good News Translation) or “Suppose” since the Hebrew particle here introduces the possibility that some people or something might be left behind (remain) after the destruction. A tenth refers to a tenth of the population according to Good News Translation, but it may also mean “a tenth of the land area” according to some commentators. The pronoun it in the phrase in it refers to the land.

It will be burned again …: If the condition mentioned in the previous clause is fulfilled, then this new course of action will follow. The Hebrew here is difficult and several interpretations are possible. According to Revised Standard Version, the pronoun it refers to the land, its towns, and its people; they will be burned again. New International Version is similar to Revised Standard Version by speaking of a second destruction of the land, saying “it will again be laid waste.” It then compares this to stumps that remain standing after the trees have been cut down. This links smoothly with the last line of the verse. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is very similar. But according to Good News Translation, the pronoun it refers to the last tenth: even the survivors will be destroyed. They will be like a stump of a tree that has been cut down. New Jerusalem Bible is similar, but notes that the meaning of the verse is difficult to determine precisely. Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch follow the view that the tenth will be destroyed, but the survivors are compared to shoots that sprout from the stump of a tree that has been cut down; they too will be destroyed. Even though these versions make the comparison with the shoots, they keep the idea of the stump, so that there is a link with the last line of the verse. For the first five lines of this verse Bible en français courant (1997) has “Even if a tenth escapes the disaster, it, in its turn, will suffer the fate of the shoots that grow from the stump of an oak or a terebinth that was cut down: they are thrown into the fire.”

De~Waard notes that the interpretation of the verse has been a problem for centuries, partly because the Hebrew verb rendered be burned can also be translated “be destroyed” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible) or “be laid waste” (New International Version). He further notes that no translation can be considered the only possible and correct one. Since this is true, translators may follow the interpretation adopted in the translation familiar in their area.

Will be burned may be rendered as an active verb by making Yahweh the subject (see the third example below).

Again renders the Hebrew verb meaning “to return.” Here it is used in the sense of a repeated action. However, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders it as “it [the people] shall repent,” which is another meaning of the verb. This translation seems to be in conflict with the general context of the passage.

Like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains standing when it is felled: Terebinth and oak are two varieties of tree found in Israel. They are both large trees. For oak see the comments on 1.29. Translators may choose two other large trees to render the sense here, provided that they are trees that might grow in Israel. Otherwise the best thing to do is to render these lines as “like a large tree whose stump remains after it is cut down.” Good News Translation omits the reference to the terebinth and speaks only of the oak tree.

The holy seed is its stump: Good News Translation renders this brief and puzzling statement as “The stump represents a new beginning for God’s people.” Good News Translation views it as a digression, so it places it in a new paragraph between parentheses. This way of handling the sentence suggests that it is an afterthought coming from the prophet. New American Bible treats it similarly. The sentence is not found in some Septuagint manuscripts, but de~Waard considers this to be a textual omission. He advises that it should be translated as part of the verse (also Hebrew Old Testament Text Project). New English Bible omits this sentence, but Revised English Bible has restored it to the text: “Its stump is a holy seed.”

The stump of the tree is the part of the tree that remains after it has been cut down. Here it represents future hope since sprouts might grow from it. However, there is some question about the meaning of the Hebrew word translated stump. The term is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. Some believe it means “bare trunk,” that is, a tree whose branches have been cut off. It is not possible to be absolutely certain about its meaning.

The holy seed is the sprouts of the stump. This probably refers to a remnant of the people of Israel and Judah that will survive the coming disasters. Here the word holy has its basic meaning of “being set apart,” so these people are special. Contemporary English Version calls them “my chosen ones.” Seed is often a figure for descendants, which is true here. Rather than use the verb is to show the relationship between the seed and the stump, it may be better to say “grows out of.” This indicates that the stump will send out new shoots, that is, its seed. Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch end the verse with translations that some might call paraphrases. They are useful in that they offer us the deeper meaning of the text. Bible en français courant (1997) says “But this stump is the divine pledge to a new beginning,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “The stump remains, however, and out of the stump new life will sprout, to God’s glory.” Earlier in the verse Yahweh says the stump was burned, so there is no future for it. Thus it seems best to regard this last line as quite independent of the previous picture and treat it as a parenthesis.

For translation it may be best to retain the figurative language of the last line rather than go as far as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have done. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “its stump shall be a holy seed.” However, this does not seem particularly meaningful.

Translation suggestions for this verse are:

• Even if there is only a tenth of the people left [in the land],
they will be burned again just like a tree stump left after the tree is felled is burned.”
(But special shoots will grow from that stump.)

• Suppose there are only ten percent of the people left there,
they will be destroyed like a terebinth or an oak tree
whose stump is burned after the tree is cut down.”
(A holy people will grow from that stump.)

• Even if only one tenth of the population remains,
I will set fire to them again,
just as a tree stump is burned to remove it fully.”
Holy people will come from that stump.

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 .