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)

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.)

Translation commentary on Wisdom 10:18

She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters: Good News Translation shows how these two lines can be efficiently and effectively combined. The Hebrew Bible regularly uses the term “Sea of Reeds” for Red Sea. Good News Translation renders this as “Gulf of Suez” in the Old Testament (for example, Exo 10.19), which is the modern term for the western extension of the Red Sea separating Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula. We suggest that the translator use “Gulf of Suez” or “Sea of Reeds,” unless there is a strong tradition in the translator’s language for “Red Sea.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Wisdom of Solomon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2004. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.