worthless idols

The Hebrew that is translated as “worthless idols” or similar in English is translated in Kutu as vinyago or “idols,” “because all ‘vinyago‘ are worthless and by putting the adjective on it then it might give the people the idea that there are idols that are ‘useful/good.'” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also idol / idols and these worthless things.

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.

worship

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The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are often translated as “worship” (also, “kneel down” or “bow down”) are likewise translated in other languages in certain categories, including those based on physical activity, those which incorporate some element of “speaking” or “declaring,” and those which specify some type of mental activity.

Following is a list of (back-) translations (click or tap for details):

  • Javanese: “prostrate oneself before”
  • Malay: “kneel and bow the head”
  • Kaqchikel: “kneel before”
  • Loma (Liberia): “drop oneself beneath God’s foot”
  • Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “wag the tail before God” (using a verb which with an animal subject means “to wag the tail,” but with a human subject)
  • Tzotzil: “join to”
  • Kpelle: “raise up a blessing to God”
  • Kekchí: “praise as your God”
  • Cashibo-Cacataibo: “say one is important”
  • San Blas Kuna: “think of God with the heart”
  • Rincón Zapotec: “have one’s heart go out to God”
  • Tabasco Chontal: “holy-remember” (source of this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Bariai: “lift up God’s name” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Q’anjob’al: “humble oneself before” (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. )
  • Alur: rwo: “complete submission, adoration, consecration” (source: F. G. Lasse in The Bible Translator 1956, p. 22ff. )
  • Obolo: itọtọbọ ebum: “express reverence and devotion” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Ngäbere: “cut oneself down before” (“This figure of speech comes from the picture of towering mahoganies in the forest which, under the woodman’s ax, quiver, waver, and then in solemn, thunderous crashing bury their lofty heads in the upstretched arms of the surrounding forest. This is the experience of every true worshiper who sees ‘the Lord, high and lifted up.’ Our own unworthiness brings us low. As the Valientes say, ‘we cut ourselves down before’ His presence. Our heads, which have been carried high in self-confidence, sink lower and lower in worship.)
  • Tzeltal: “end oneself before God.” (“Only by coming to the end of oneself can one truly worship. The animist worships his deities in the hope of receiving corresponding benefits, and some pagans in Christendom think that church attendance is a guarantee of success in this life and good luck in the future. But God has never set a price on worship except the price that we must pay, namely, ‘coming to the end of ourselves.'”) (Source of this and the one above: Nida 1952, p. 163)
  • Folopa: “die under God” (“an idiom that roughly back-translates “dying under God” which means lifting up his name and praising him and to acknowledge by everything one does and thanks that God is superior.”) (Source: Anderson / Moore, p. 202)
  • Chokwe: kuivayila — “rub something on” (“When anyone goes into the presence of a king or other superior, according to native law and custom the inferior gets down on the ground, takes a little earth in the fingers of his right hand, rubs it on his own body, and then claps his hands in homage and the greeting of friendship. It is a token of veneration, of homage, of extreme gratitude for some favor received. It is also a recognition of kingship, lordship, and a prostrating of oneself in its presence. Yet it simply is the applicative form of ‘to rub something on oneself’, this form of the verb giving the value of ‘because of.’ Thus in God’s presence as king and Lord we metaphorically rub dirt on ourselves, thus acknowledging Him for what He really is and what He has done for us.”) (Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff. )
  • In the German New Testament translation Fridolin Stier (1989) it is consistently translated as “bow (to someone) deeply” (tief verneigen)

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

complete verse (Psalm 97:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 97:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “All who worship graven idols are brought to shame,
    those who are proud of idols;
    worship him, you all gods!” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Those who do idol worship,
    those who take pride in idols
    will all have to be shamed.
    All gods will bow down and worship before the LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “All who worship images and boast in those little-gods/false-gods will-be-put-to-shame.
    All gods kneel to-worship God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God gives shame to all people who worship other gods,
    all people who are proud because of the things which they made to be gods,
    all god should kneel down to God!” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wote ambao wanaabudu kwa miungu waibishwe,
    na ambao wanajisifia kwa sanamu.
    Enyi miungu wote, mumwabuduni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Everyone who worships idols should be ashamed;
    all those who are proud of their false gods should realize that their gods are useless,
    It is as though all those gods bow down to worship Yahweh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 97:7

The psalmist now describes the effect of Yahweh’s sovereignty on Gentiles and Israelites alike. The former are put to shame, that is, “dismayed” (New Jerusalem Bible), “humiliated” (Dahood). For put to shame see comments on “ashamed” in 6.10. The Hebrew text of verse 7a-b is composed of two synonymous lines (see Revised Standard Version) which Good News Translation has shortened and combined into one line. But it may be better to have three lines in translation, as follows:

• All who worship false gods,
who are proud of those worthless idols,
are put to shame.

In line a the word images (found only here in the Psalms) is the artifact itself, either of metal or of wood, while in line b the word translated idols is the same one used in 96.5. For translation notes on idols, see 96.5. Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and others translate the two verbs put to shame and bow down as statements of fact; some, however, translate the first one as indicative and the second one as imperative (Dahood, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New English Bible; see Good News Translation footnote).

The Septuagint translates the Hebrew ʾelohim in line c by “his angels”; but it seems preferable to take it here in the same sense it has in verse 9b, the gods of the other nations (see 96.4-5).

In languages where bow down before does not have the meaning of “worship,” it will be necessary to make the component of worship explicit; for example, “bow down in order to worship” or “worship by bowing down.”

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 .