complete verse (Psalm 80:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 80:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “It stretched out its branches up to the lake,
    its shoots up to the river.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We spread our branches to the Mediterranean Sea,
    and [our] sprouts reached to the Euphrates river.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Its branches reached to the Sea of Mediteraneo and to the River of the Eufrates.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Its branches sprouted to be many to reach the Mediterranean Sea,
    and some reached the Big River of Euphrates.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Matawi yake yameenda kufika katika bahari Mediterani,
    vitawi ambavyo vinaota, vimefika katika mto Frati.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “your people ruled all of Canaan, from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Euphrates River in the east.” (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). 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.)

Translation commentary on Psalm 80:10 - 80:11

These verses describe the extension of Israel’s dominion over all the country as far west as the Mediterranean Sea and as far east as the Euphrates River. It is probable that in verse 10a The mountains refer to the southern part of the country, and the mighty cedars in verse 10b refer to the northern part, that is, Lebanon (see 29.5; 37.35 and comments).

In verse 10b the Hebrew is “and its branches the cedars of God,” which is taken by most to follow the structure of verse 10a, meaning, “its branches overshadowed the mighty cedars.” Revised Standard Version does not repeat the verb in this line; the sense is “the mighty cedars were covered with its branches.” Some, however, have “its branches were like giant cedars” (also New English Bible), indicating the size of the vine. The Hebrew for mighty cedars is an example of the use of ʾel “God” as a superlative; see 36.6 for further discussion.

For the sea (the Mediterranean) and the River (the Euphrates), see discussion at 72.8.

Should the figurative language in verses 10-11 also be difficult, the following may be attempted:

• 10 They took possession of the whole country,
from the south all the way north to the Lebanon Mountains.
11 They extended the country’s borders
from the Mediterranean Sea
all the way to the Euphrates River.

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 .