wine

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).

In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )

The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)

In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).

In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine and wine (Gen 27:28).

fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:29

Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils …: Others of them is made quite specific in God’s Word, which says “Other descendants of Korah.” New Century Version has “Other gatekeepers” in keeping with its interpretation that the people mentioned in verses 28-34 were not only Levites, but were also gatekeepers. In some languages the passive verb were appointed must be replaced with an active one. But since no specific agent is named in the text, it will be best to use an indefinite subject for an active verb, beginning this verse with “They appointed others…” or “Someone put others in charge of….” In some languages it will be possible to say “Others had the duty of….”

The Hebrew word rendered furniture is the same one translated utensils in the previous verse and in this verse. Here the reference is probably to certain other items not included in the statement in verse 28. Holy utensils included items such as buckets and shovels.

Also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices: The Hebrew noun translated fine flour refers to flour made from the inner kernels of wheat, which were finely ground. It was used in grain offerings and some other food offerings (see, for example, Lev 2). Wine was used in drink offerings (see Lev 23.13). Oil refers to “olive oil” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation), which was used along with fine flour and incense in some food offerings (see Lev 2). It was also used as fuel in the lamps of the Tabernacle and Temple (see Lev 24.2). The spices were used to make incense (see 2 Chr 2.4), or they were mixed together with oil to form a mixture that was used in the anointing of the priests and in the dedication of various pieces of equipment used in the Tabernacle and Temple (see Exo 30.23-33). These spices included myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .