complete verse (Genesis 34:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:20:

  • Newari: “So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the main gate of the city and spoke to the ones living in the city –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So he and his father/[lit. they with his father] then went there to the gate of the city and talked-together with the men of their city.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Shechem went with Hamor to the meeting place near the city gate, and they spoke to the city leaders, saying,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:20

The gate of their city refers to the place where people gathered to discuss events and to hold court. See 19.1. Many translations say in this context “went to the meeting place at [near] the gate.” If a term for city is used in translation, it should not make readers think of a huge place like cities in the modern world. The word “town” (Anchor Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible) is much more appropriate in English.

The men of their city: the narrator probably means that certain key men of the city would be involved. Anchor Bible calls them “their town council.” However, the Hebrew text does not require this sense, and translators may take account of custom in their own situation; some say, for example, “spoke to all their countrymen” or “… to the other men of the town.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .