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). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Numbers 11:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 11:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “How many cows or sheep are to be killed now/today to be enough for these people? Or would all the fish in the ocean be enough?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “would They have enough if their flocks and herds were butchered them? or wOrld all the fish in the ocean even be enough to feed them?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Even (if) we (excl.) butcher all the sheep and cow or catch all the fish in the sea it would- not -be-enough for them.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Even if we killed all the sheep and cattle, that would not be enough to provide meat for all of them Even if we caught all the fish in the sea and gave it to them, that would not be enough !’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 11:22

Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to suffice them?: The Hebrew word for flocks (tsʾon) refers to sheep and goats, and the word for herds (baqar) refers to cattle. Parole de Vie renders this rhetorical question as a strong statement, saying “Even if they [indefinite] kill for them [the Israelites] all the sheep, the goats and the cattle, that is not enough!”

Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?: Parole de Vie renders this rhetorical question as a strong statement also, saying “Even if they [indefinite] take all the fish, that is not enough!” For Parole de Vie the fish of the sea is a redundant expression, so it simply says “fish.”

These two rhetorical questions imply considerable doubt on Moses’ part. He simply did not believe that the LORD could do what he had just promised. No amount of sheep, goats, cattle, and fish would be enough to feed such a large multitude!

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .