Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Canaan” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

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

idol / idols

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “idol(s)” in English is translated in Central Subanen as ledawan or “images.” (Source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )

In German, typically the term Götze is used. Originally this was used as a term of endearment for Gott (“God” — see here ), later for “icon” and “image, likeness.” Luther started to use it in the 16th century in the meaning of “false god, idol.”

Other terms that are used in German include Götzenbild(er) (“image[s] of idols”) or Bildnis (“image” — Protestant) / Kultbild (“cultish image” — Catholic) (used for instance in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8). The latest revision of the Catholic Einheitsübersetzung (publ. 2016) also uses the neologism Nichtse (“nothings”) in 1 Chron. 16:26 and Psalm 96:5. (Source: Zetzsche)

See also worthless idols.

complete verse (Psalm 106:38)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 106:38:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They shed blood of innocent people,
    the blood of their male children and their female children,
    whom they gave sacrifice to the idols of Canaan,
    and the land was polluted with their blood.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They shed the blood of innocent sons and daughters,
    They offered sacrifices to them for the idols of the land of Canaan,
    and by their blood the land became impure.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “who (were) the little-gods/false-gods of Canaan.
    Because of their killing of their innocent children, they defiled/[lit. dirtied] the land of Canaan” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They killed innocent children,
    their boys and their girls,
    who they gave to be sacrifices to the gods of Canaan,
    and the land was spoiled by the blood of their children.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wakamwaga damu bila hatia yoyote,
    damu ya watoto wao vijana wa kiume na wasichana.
    Walitoa kuwa sadaka ya miungu ya katika Kanani,
    nchi ikachafuliwa kwa damu hiyo.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They killed their own children, who were innocent/had not done things that were wrong,
    and offered them as sacrifices to the idols in Canaan.
    As a result, Canaan land was polluted by those murders.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 106:37 - 106:39

In verse 37b the word translated “idols” by Good News Translation is found only here and in Deuteronomy 32.17; it is taken by most to mean demons (so the Septuagint). The reference is still to the pagan deities, whom the psalmist calls demons (as in Deut 32.17). Bible en français courant “false gods” is better than “idols”; New English Bible “foreign demons” is not very satisfactory. Briggs defines the word as meaning the ancient gods of the Canaanites.

Verse 38 is long and wordy in Hebrew (see Revised Standard Version); Good News Translation has expressed the meaning more concisely. Because the Israelites had offered their innocent children as sacrifices, both the land (verse 38b) and they themselves (verse 39a) were made polluted and unclean, that is, unfit to worship Yahweh, to have fellowship with him.

If a translator wishes to reproduce the rather repetitious character of the Hebrew text in verses 37-38, the following may serve as a model:

• 37 They offered their own sons and daughters
as sacrifices to those false gods.
38 They killed those innocent children–
their own sons and daughters–
and offered them as sacrifices
to the idols of the Canaanites;
these killings made the land impure.

Idolatry is compared here, as often elsewhere in the Old Testament, to marital infidelity; Israel was Yahweh’s “wife,” and when she worshiped foreign gods she was being unfaithful to him. Revised Standard Version‘s quaint played the harlot is from King James Version; see New Jerusalem Bible‘s more vigorous “their behavior was that of a harlot.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .