lion

There are no lions in Bawm country, so the Bawm Chin translation uses “a tiger with a mane” where the Greek term for “lion” is used and in Sranan Tongo the “roaring lion” in 1 Peter 5:8 is a krasi tigri, an “aggressive tiger.”

In the Kahua culture, lions are not known either so the Kahua translation used “fierce animal.”

In 1 Peter 5:8, the Uripiv translation uses “a hungry shark” instead of a roaring lion.

Sources: David Clark for Bawm Chin and Kahua, Japini 2015, p. 33, for Sranan Tongo, and Ross McKerras for Uripiv)

bear (animal)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “bear” in English is translated in Mungaka and Berom as “leopard” since bears are not known in that culture (see also wolf) (source: Nama 1990 and Andy Warren-Rothlin).

In Vidunda and Kutu it is translated as “lion,” in Kwere as “cheetah” (in Proverbs 17:12) (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Idakho-Isukha-Tiriki as “jackal” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin).

Michel Kenmogne comments on this and comparable translations (in Noss 2007, p. 378 ff.): “Some exegetical solutions adopted by missionary translations may have been acceptable during that time frame, but weighed against today’s translation theory and procedures, they appear quite outdated and even questionable. For example, Atangana Nama approvingly mentions the translation into Mungaka of terms like ‘deer’ as ‘leopard’, ‘camel’ as ‘elephant’, and ‘wheat’ as ‘maize,’ where the target language has no direct equivalent to the source text. These pre-Nida translation options, now known as adaptations, would be declared unacceptable in modern practice, since they misrepresent the historico-zoological and agricultural realities in the Bible. Nowadays it is considered better to give a generalized term, like ‘grain,’ and where necessary specify ‘a grain called wheat,’ than to give an incorrect equivalence. Unknown animals such as bears, can be called ‘fierce animals,’ especially if the reference is a non-historical context.”

Translation commentary on Proverbs 28:15

Verses 15-16 continue the theme of verse 12 and speak of the unfortunate results brought about by wicked rulers.

“Like a roaring lion or a charging bear”: Revised Standard Version translates this verse as a simile, but in Hebrew it is a metaphor. For “lion” see 19.12, and for “bear” see 17.12. Where these animals are unknown, it may be possible to substitute other local wild animals that are fierce. If that is not possible, we may say, for example, “Like a fierce animal that is charging. . ..” “Charging” means “rushing to attack,” but some versions render the Hebrew as “prowling” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible) in the sense of “hunting for food” (Contemporary English Version).

“Is a wicked ruler over a poor people”: For “ruler” see 23.1. “Over a poor people” means “who is oppressing, mistreating the poor people.” In this context “poor” may have the sense of being “powerless” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “helpless” (Revised English Bible) to resist what the wicked ruler is doing. It may be best to reverse the lines of this saying; for example, “A wicked ruler who oppresses poor people is worse than a fierce, charging animal.” See Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .