13So Bagoas left the presence of Holofernes and approached her and said, “Let this pretty servant not hesitate to come to my lord to be honored in his presence and to enjoy drinking wine with us and to become today like one of the Assyrian women who serve in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.”
The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), in sar as kasə nduú or “grape drink” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).
In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )
The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)
In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).
In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).
In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)
Good News Translation begins a new paragraph here since the scene shifts.
This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord: Bagoas is positively flattering in his approach to Judith; it seems he can hardly hide an evil grin. The principal problem here is how he addresses her. This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord is literal. This has presented a real challenge to English translators, who have resorted to many different devices to avoid the awkward third person address. Here are some examples: New Revised Standard Version “Let this pretty girl not hesitate to come to my lord,” New English Bible “Now, my beauty, do not be bashful; come along to my master,” New American Bible “So fair a maiden should not be reluctant to come to my lord,” and New Jerusalem Bible “Would this young and lovely woman condescend to come to my lord.” Good News Translation‘s “Lovely lady … the general invites you” is not bad. Contemporary English Version‘s model is also possible: “You are such a beautiful woman that General Holofernes has invited you.” Some of these should give the translator an idea on how to proceed. Two elements are in Bagoas’ description of Judith: she is young and beautiful. An element of subservience is present also.
A number of elements comprise Bagoas’ invitation. In order they are:
A. come
B. to my lord
C. be honored
D. in his presence
E. drink wine
F. be merry
G. become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar
Good News Translation has arranged these in the order BDEAFGC. Translators may arrange these elements in any order making good natural sense.
Drink wine and be merry with us is literally “drink wine with us unto joy.” Be merry with us means “enjoy yourself” (Good News Translation). With us need not be translated literally; it is simply part of Bagoas’ invitation. Judith will be alone with Holofernes.
Become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar: Daughters of the Assyrians means “Assyrian women”; house of Nebuchadnezzar means “Nebuchadnezzar’s palace.” She is invited to think of herself in the company of royalty. Inviting her to serve obviously does not mean to join the “wait staff.” And Judith knows what he means.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.
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