complete verse (Jeremiah 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 10:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “And then it is decorated with silver and gold,
    and it is fastened with nails so that the thing does not fall.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It is) then being-decorated with silver and gold, and nailed carefully so-that (it) will- not -fall.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then people decorate the idol with silver and gold.
    Then they fasten it securely with nails in order that it will not topple/fall over.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 10:4

This verse describes the next steps in the construction of an idol: it is covered with silver and gold, then nailed down to keep it from falling over (see Good News Translation). But the verb move may possibly have the meaning reflected in New English Bible: “so that they do not fall apart.”

Men deck it with silver and gold can be active or passive, according to the language, but it should follow the previous sentence naturally. For the whole verse, translators can say “People then decorate [or, cover] it with silver and gold, and they fasten it down with nails so it won’t be unsteady.”

If hammer and nails are not known, translators may use an expression such as “they use metal tools to fasten it together so it won’t move.”

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 .