desert, wilderness

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The Greek that is translated as “desert” or “wilderness” in English is translated in a number of ways:

Note that in Luke 15:4, usually a term is used that denotes pastoral land, such as “eating/grazing-place” in Tagbanwa (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation).

See also wilderness and desolate wilderness.

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.

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 20:18

And I said to their children in the wilderness …: After the disobedience of the generation of Israelites who had come out of Egypt in the Exodus, God warned their children to obey him (verses 18-20). The verb said may be translated “warned” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation renders their children as “the young people among them,” but most translations keep the word “children” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version).

Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their ordinances: See 18.9. God warned the children not to follow the evil way of their ancestors. Good News Translation renders these two clauses well, saying “Do not keep the laws your ancestors made.”

Nor defile yourselves with their idols: See Ezek 20.7.

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 .