keep peace, quiet, silent

The Hebrew that is translated “silent,” “quiet,” or “keep peace” or similar in English is emphasized in the interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) with the ideophone phee. (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 105)

Philip Noss (in The Bible Translator 1976, p. 100ff. ) explains the function of an ideophone: “The ideophone may be identified with onomatopoeia and other sound words frequently seen in French and English comic strips, but in [many] African languages it comprises a class of words with a very wide range of meaning and usage. They may function verbally, substantively, or in a modifying role similar to adverbs and adjectives. They describe anything that may be experienced: action, sound, color, quality, smell, or emotion. In oral literature they are used not only with great frequency but also with great creativity.”

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 16:42

So will I satisfy my fury on you: Once God punishes the girl, he will let his anger against her go quiet (compare 5.13). The conjunction So may be rendered “Then” (Good News Translation), “As a result,” or “After that.” For the Hebrew word rendered fury, see verse 38, where it is translated “wrath.”

And my jealousy shall depart from you repeats the sense of the previous clause. For the Hebrew word rendered jealousy, see verse 38. This clause may be combined with the previous one by saying “Then my burning anger against you will subside.”

I will be calm, and will no more be angry means God will calm down and no longer be angry with the girl. New Century Version says “I will be quiet and not angry anymore.”

Translators need to find natural idioms in their languages to express the strong feeling of anger in this verse. A possible model is:

• After that I will calm down and let my burning anger die away. I will not stay angry with you any longer.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .