enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on Wisdom 16:4

For it was necessary that upon those oppressors inexorable want should come: The connector For may be omitted. Necessary may be rendered “Inevitable” (New Jerusalem Bible), “right” (New English Bible), or “appropriate.” For this line we suggest “It was [only/simply] appropriate that the oppressors should be driven to desperation [or, in a desperate situation]” or “… should find themselves in a situation with no way out.”

While to these it was merely shown how their enemies were being tormented: These refers to the Israelites. This does not mean that the Israelites looked on the suffering of the Egyptians as if watching a show. It means that they themselves suffered the same kind of thing, but just a little bit, so that they would know just how severely God must be punishing their enemies. Translators could say “while your [own] people simply were experiencing suffering for a short while.”

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.