complete verse (Jeremiah 43:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 43:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “Disaster will come to those who have been judged/decided like that, and those who have been prepared to be taken to become prisoners it will happen like that. And/But those who have been destined to be killed they will die in a battle.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He will-attack Egipto and will-kill the ones who are-destined to be killed and will-take-into-captivity the ones who are-destined to be taken-captive. The-(ones) destined to die in battle will-be-killed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When his army comes, they will attack Egypt. Then those will die who I have determined must die, those who I have determined must be captured will be captured, and those who I have determined must be killed by swords will be killed by swords.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 43:11

Smite translates a verb that is used numerous times with a variety of meanings in the Old Testament. “Defeat” is the meaning suggested in this context by Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible; New International Version has “attack,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “invade,” and Revised English Bible “vanquish.”

Pestilence … captivity … sword: See 15.2.

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 .