shake heads

The phrase in Jeremiah 18:16 that is translated in English translations as “are horrified and shake their heads” is translated into Afar as Ahamal qagabsiteloonuuh, namma xabanal gaba hayya heenih: “They are shocked at this, and put both hands on their cheeks.” (Shock is expressed physically by placing their hands on their cheeks, not shaking their heads.)

See also insulted him and shook their heads.

complete verse (Jeremiah 18:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 18:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “They made their land to be desolate,
    bringing them shame forever.
    Everyone who passes by there shall be surprised
    and shake his head in wonder.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Their land will-become desolate and object-of-scorn forever/[lit. until whenever]. All who will-pass-by will- surely -be-astonished/stunned/[lit. not-able-to-speak] and will-shake-(their-)head.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Therefore, their land will become desolate,
    and people who see it will hiss to ridicule it.
    Everyone who passes by will be appalled;
    they will shake their heads to show that they are shocked.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 18:16

Horror is the same word translated “waste” in 2.15. Consequently, translators can put either “land of horror” or “desolate land.”

A thing to be hissed at for ever: The act of hissing is either an expression of horror or else a sound made to ward off any demons that may be present in the ruins. Translators then have three ways to consider in rendering the expression: (1) Simply translate without including the interpretation, as in “the land is something that causes people to hiss.” If hissing has some particular meaning in the translator’s language, this solution might not be appropriate. (2) Accept hissing as a sign of horror, as in “people will hiss in horror” or “people will be horrified.” (3) Accept hissing as a way of keeping the demons away, as in “people who pass will forever hiss in fear of the demons” or “it will always be a place of fear [of demons].”

Similarly, shakes his head may be an action of contempt, of horror or of dread. Translators can say “shake their heads” or “shake their heads in horror [or, in fear].”

In Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch the entire verse is rendered:

• The land is so devastated that every one who passes by is astonished and trembles with fear and horror.

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 .