wine

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), in sar as kasə nduú or “grape drink” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).

In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )

The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)

In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).

In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine, wine (Japanese honorifics), filled with new wine, and wine (Gen 27:28).

drink

In Telugu different verbs for humans drinking (tāgu / తాగు) and animals drinking (cēḍu / చేడు) are required.

complete verse (Leviticus 10:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 10:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘I do not want for you and your sons to drink wine or beer when you come to the Tent of God. If you have drunk, you shall die. This is a law that goes from one age-set to another.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When [you] go into the Tent of Meeting, you or your sons must not go having drunk wine or beer otherwise you will die. I have said this for your from generation to generation law forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘You (sing.) and your (sing.) children should not enter the Tent having-drank wine or whatever drink that can-cause-drunkenness. If you (plur.) do this, you (plur.) will-die. You (plur.) should follow this regulation/[lit. what-is-to-be-followed] until generations to come.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘You and your two sons who are still alive must not drink wine or other fermented drinks before you enter the Sacred Tent; if you do that, you will die. That is a command that you and your descendants must obey forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Leviticus 10:8 - 9

The LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: the construction here is exactly the same as in 4.1, and it is used to begin many other paragraphs in this book. However, in those other cases only one verb is used in Revised Standard Version. In most cases it will be more natural to use a single verb in this case also. But some languages naturally use such repetition to introduce a quotation.

Drink no wine nor strong drink: the restructuring of Good News Translation makes it clearer that the priests are not necessarily forbidden alcoholic drinks in all circumstances, but that the restriction applied when they were about to go into the Tent. The word translated wine indicates a drink made from grapes, and the context makes it clear that fermentation is probably involved. The second term, rendered strong drink in Revised Standard Version, actually refers to a fermented drink made from barley. The most common equivalent in many languages is “beer.” But these two terms used together represent any alcoholic beverage, and the prohibition is not limited to two kinds. The translation should make it clear that a general rule is intended.

In some cases it may be better to restructure the entire verse 9 to say something like “No priest, whether you or your sons, shall enter the Tent of the LORD’s presence after having drunk…” or “If you or your sons have drunk…, then you must not go into the Tent….” The reason for this prohibition may be twofold: (a) the need to be sober and clear-thinking in order to distinguish between what is holy and what is common, between what is clean and unclean (see verse 10); but also (b) the need for separation of the Jewish priests from common Canaanite practices, since alcohol played an important role in Canaanite rites.

Lest you die: see verse 6.

It shall be a statute for ever: this gives the regulation a permanent value. See comments on 3.17b.

Throughout your generations: this includes the generation of Aaron and his sons as well as those who would come after them. Many languages will have to use a completely different expression such as “as long as your children continue to have grandchildren” or “as long as your family continue as priests.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .