The Greek that is translated as “the first things have passed away” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as alles was früher war, ist vorbei or “everything that used to be is over.”
teach
fornication, sexual immorality
The Greek that is translated as “sexual immorality” or “fornication” or similar is translated much more specifically in some languages. Morelos Nahuatl has “let a man not yield himself to another woman except only to his wife. Also let a woman not yield herself to another man except only to her husband” or in Lalana Chinantec as “not proper for them to mix themselves with other women. The same is true of women for other men also.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Low German as Hurenkram or “things related to prostitution (and/or sleeping around)” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006) and in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) typically as Sexgier or “sex cravings” (exceptions: Acts 15:10 and 15:29).
See also sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery and adulterous and sinful generation.
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Sexual Immorality (Word Study) .
stumbling block
The now commonly-used English idiom “stumbling block” (meaning a challenge or hindrance that prevents an accomplishment) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling stomblinge blocke). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 283)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
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 (Revelation 2:14)
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 2:14:
- Uma: “But there are several things that I fault you for. Because there are some of you who follow the teaching of Bileam long ago. That Bileam taught Balak what the way was to cause the people of Israel to sin, encouraging them to eat food that was given in worship to idols, and to do wrong [has sexual connotation].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “But there is something that I find fault with in you: some of you there follow the teaching of Bala’am. In old times Balak was taught hep by Bala’am as to what he should do (lit. how) in order to influence the people of Isra’il to sin. They were influenced by him to sin when they ate food that had been offered to the idols and when they already practised illicit sex.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are a few things you are doing which I do not like, for some of you are following that which Balaam taught long ago. For Balaam taught Balak long ago a way to tempt the descendants of Israel. It was the eating of sacrifices to false gods and sex relations with people other than their spouses.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “”But there is a little that I dislike-about your way-of-life, because there are those who have joined you who are following what Balaam taught before (i.e. in the past). Balaam, he taught Balak what to do in order to tempt the descendants of Israel to sin. Therefore he (understood as Balak) persuaded them to join-in-eating what had been offered to idols (lit. false/imitation gods) and to sleep-with someone who was not their spouse.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “But there are a few things which I am finding fault with in you. There are some of you there who still follow the teaching of Balaam who taught Balak long ago to cause the Israelita to fall (fig.) so that they were doing sin. Well because of that, the Israelita ate meat which was used in sacrificing to pretend gods. What else but they did disgusting deeds with those who weren’t their spouses.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “I have some words about what you do however which I do not look well upon. Because there are some of your companions who follow the word taught by Balaam long ago. He is the one who taught Balak, telling him to cause the Jews to sin by eating what was offered to idols and then fornicating.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Japanese benefactives (nuguitotte)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
Here, nuguitotte (ぬぐい取って) or “wipe off” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Translation commentary on Revelation 2:14
After praise comes censure (verses 14-15).
But I have a few things against you: this is like the statement in 2.4, with the addition of a few things. Actually only one thing is mentioned, and that is the complaint against some of the believers in Pergamum.
You have some there: “there are some among you” (Good News Translation) or “some people in your group.”
Hold the teaching of Balaam: hold means to “follow” or “do according to.” The reference is to Numbers 22-24 (see Deut 23.4). Balaam was the seer from Babylonia whom Balak, king of Moab, tried to get to lay a curse on the Israelites. According to one account (Num 31.16) Balaam’s advice led the people of Israel to worship idols and indulge in immoral sexual practices (Num 25.1-3). So he became the first biblical example of a teacher who persuades the people to abandon God and worship idols.
Who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel: the verb taught here does not indicate a formal course of instruction but means “told,” “ordered,” or else, more freely, “who showed Balak how to….” “How” (Good News Translation) may be rendered as “the way” or “the method.” As elsewhere, stumbling block is an act or habit that makes a person fall into sin. The Greek word is skandalon (from which the word “scandal” is derived), which is the trigger peg in an animal trap; so New Jerusalem Bible “who taught Balak to set a trap for the Israelites.” The literal translation the sons of Israel may be misleading; New Revised Standard Version now has “the people of Israel” (see Good News Translation); or “the Israelites” (Revised English Bible). Another way of expressing this clause is “who showed Balak how to cause the people of Israel to sin.”
That they might eat food sacrificed to idols: in Greek this clause may indicate the purpose or the result of Balaam’s advice. It is better to translate as result, “so that they ate.” In some Hebrew sacrifices the animal was not completely consumed by the fire on the altar; only a small part of the animal was burned, and the rest was eaten by the worshipers or else sold. Because the food mentioned here had been dedicated to a pagan god, the Jews considered this meat unclean; and among Christians this became a serious problem (see especially 1 Cor 8.1-13). In some languages this clause may be restructured; for example, “He had them (or, persuaded them to) eat meat from animals that people had sacrificed or, offered on an altar) to idols.” In certain languages idols may be expressed as “carved representations (or, images) of minor (or, lesser) gods (or, deities).”
Practice immorality: usually this is taken quite literally to mean immoral sexual activity. Some, however, take it as a metaphor, as it often is in the Old Testament, meaning idolatry as such; but here the translation should be quite literal. The same charge is made against the Christians in Thyatira (2.20). Sexual immorality here refers to illicit sexual relations between males and females. Ways of expressing this are “having sexual relations with someone else’s spouse” or “sleeping (or, being with) someone who is not one’s own spouse” and is sometimes expressed as “acting like a dog” or some other animal that is considered promiscuous.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• But I must criticize you for a few things that you have done: some people in your group follow the teachings of Balaam, who showed Balak how to cause the people of Israel to sin. Balaam persuaded them to eat the meat of animals that people had sacrificed (or, offered on an altar) to worship carved images. He also caused them to sin by enticing them to commit adultery.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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