lying flat, prostrate

The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone ngundangunda to positions like lying prostrate or lying flat (in death). (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 Jeremiah 51:47

Behold: See 1.6.

The days are coming is a frequently used expression in Jeremiah; Good News Translation renders “the time is coming.” See 7.32.

The images of Babylon may be expressed as either “Babylonia’s idols” (Good News Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “Babylonia’s gods” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). For images see “graven images” in 8.19.

Put to shame translates a frequently used verb in Jeremiah (see 2.26). It is often rendered “humiliated.”

All her slain shall fall in the midst of her: This is a gruesome picture of dead bodies everywhere. See 49.26 for a similar description of Babylonia’s fate. Perhaps here translators can say something like “those who have been killed will lie fallen throughout the land” or “her dead will lie in the streets” (New Living Translation).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .