bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (Jeremiah 39:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 39:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then he gouged out the eyes of Zedekiah and tied (him) in chains and he was taken to Babylon.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then the king had the eyes of Zedekia gouged out and he had- him -chained and brought to Babilonia.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes. They fastened him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 39:7

The eyes of Zedekiah: “Zedekiah’s eyes” is more natural for English speakers.

Bound him in fetters: Good News Translation has “placed him in chains.” New Jerusalem Bible “loading him with chains” is interesting, since it suggests that heavy chains may have been placed upon Zedekiah’s shoulders. However, it is probably best to have something such as “bound him with chains.”

In verse 6 and here, the text makes Nebuchadnezzar the agent, the one doing everything. However, it is quite likely that in fact he ordered other people to do these things, hence Good News Translation “had … put out … had … placed in chains.” Translators in some languages will have to say “ordered his soldiers to put out … put in chains….”

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 .