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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 10:14:
Kupsabiny: “Every person who does not have understanding (of this) is stupid, the crafted things mock the craftsmen because those things that he himself shapes/forms are useless/worthless they have no life inside them at all.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The ones-who-worship the little-gods/false-gods (are) senseless and without wisdom. The silversmiths will-be- put -to-shame of their little-gods, for they are not true. They have no life.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “People are senseless and know very little ; those who make idols are always disappointed because their idols do nothing for them. The images/statues that they make are not real gods; they are lifeless.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Within this hymn of praise, verses 14-15 portray the foolishness of idolatry and the shame experienced by those persons who trust in idols. Good News Translation makes it clear that it is in contrast with or in light of God’s power that all people are so stupid, beginning the verse with “At the sight of this, men feel stupid and senseless.” Translators could also say “But as for people, they are all stupid.”
Every man should not be limited to males. “Every person” is certainly acceptable.
Is stupid is the same verb used in verse 8. Without knowledge is literally “without knowing,” an infinitive form made from the verb “know” (see 1.5). Often translators use a verb to express this: “Everyone is stupid and knows nothing.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates this first clause as a separate sentence: “No one can understand, at this everyone is speechless with astonishment.”
Every goldsmith is translated “those who make idols” by Good News Translation; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar.
Put to shame describes the disappointment that results when a person trusts in the power and strength of idols. Thus Good News Translation translates “are disillusioned.”
It is important to structure the sentence so that it is clear that his idols refers to the idols the goldsmith makes, not the ones he worships. Likewise, his images refers to the images of gods or idols he makes, not to images of himself. The root meaning of the word is “to melt, to cast,” and thus refers to an idol made out of metal that was melted and cast into the shape of the god it represents.
False (a word used a number of times in different contexts in Jeremiah) is here best understood in the sense of “unreal”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Bright have “a fraud.”
No breath in them means “lifeless” (Good News Translation); Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “there is no breath of life in them” and Luther 1984 renders “they have no life.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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