The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “scepter” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “stick of ruling.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
mourn
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “mourn” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “have one’s heart broken” or “have a bursting heart” (source: Newari Back Translation).
complete verse (Jeremiah 48:17)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 48:17:
- Kupsabiny: “All you neighbors shall mourn over Moab,
all you who know that it was famous.
You are saying,
‘Please, the stick/scepter of power is broken
the cattle bell has been released/removed from the neck (his fame has been stripped off).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation) - Hiligaynon: “[You (plur.)] mourn, all of you who are-allied of Moab! You (plur.) say, ‘Moab is finished! Her cane is- now -broken, the cane that symbolizes of her being-powerful and being-famous.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “You people who live in nations near Moab,
who know that it is very famous,
should mourn for Moab,
and say, ‘Its glorious power is completely ended/broken.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Translation commentary on Jeremiah 48:17
Bemoan him is better rendered “Mourn for that nation” (Good News Translation). New Jerusalem Bible has “Grieve for him.”
All you who are round about; that is, the neighboring countries.
All who know his name is rendered “all who know him well” by Bible en français courant. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch places together you who are round about him and all who know his name with the meaning, “you neighbors and all his acquaintances.” However, his name in the present context may be equivalent to “reputation” or “fame,” which is the basis for Good News Translation “all of you that know its fame.”
In many languages those who are addressed should come before the verb, as in “You nations who live nearby, all you who know him well, you must mourn for that nation.”
How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff: Scepter and staff represent Moab’s power, so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “This mighty rule is broken, this mighty, glorious rule!” With a similar dramatic effect New Jerusalem Bible retains the imagery: “How shattered it is, that mighty rod, that splendid sceptre!” Good News Translation renders “Its powerful rule has been broken; its glory and might are no more.”
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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