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. ) and in Cherokee “imaginary gods” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16).
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 135:15:
Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“The idols of the races of people are silver and gold,
made by human hands.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Newari:
“As for the idols of the nations,
they are gold and silver,
They are all made by people.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon:
“The little-gods/false-gods of other nations are- just -made from silver and gold by people/men.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Laarim:
“The people of the nations pray to gods
which they make from silver and gold.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Miungu ya wapagani inatengenezwa na fedha na dhahabu,
imetengenezwa na mikono ya watu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
English:
“But the idols that the other people-groups worship are only statues made of silver and gold,
things that humans have made.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo (Dinė)) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).
Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), “other ethnic groups” (source: Newari Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).
In Chichewa, it is translated with mitundu or “races.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
In these verses the psalmist describes the pagan idols as completely powerless and ineffective, in contrast with the all-powerful Yahweh, the God of Israel. For translation suggestions regarding idols see 31.6; 96.5; 106.38; 115.4. The nations refers, of course, to foreign nations, and must sometimes be rendered “the nations that do not worship you.” The work of men’s hands is sometimes translated as “they are things that people make.” Verses 15-17a repeat the thought and the language of 115.4-6a. Verse 17b has no parallel in 115.4-8; the meaning of nor is there any breath in their mouths is that the gods of the other nations are lifeless, inert, dead (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “They even have no life!”). The Hebrew has “mouth”; there is no need to change the text, as New English Bible does, to “nostril” (see Hebrew Old Testament Text Project).
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.