complete verse (Jeremiah 51:42)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 51:42:

  • Kupsabiny: “Enemies will swarm to Babylon
    like an ocean that is roaring.
    (They) will destroy the Babylonians
    like when the ocean envelopes/covers the land.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Babilonia will-be-covered by the roaring waves.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The enemies of Babylon will cover the city like huge waves of the sea.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 51:42

The sea has come up on Babylon: The sea is to be understood figuratively of the hordes of enemy soldiers attacking the nation. See 46.7-8; 47.2. But it is not necessary to explain the image, and most translators render this literally. In ancient times the Jewish people believed that the world was originally engulfed by a mighty ocean, and that the LORD placed the fearsome waters under his control at the time of creation. The city of Babylon is pictured here as once again falling beneath the waters of chaos.

She is covered with its tumultuous waves: This can also be expressed as “roaring waves have covered the country.”

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 .