desert / wilderness

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

  • Mairasi: “a place where noisiness is cut off (or: stops)” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Muna: pandaso bhalano pr “big barren-field” (source: René van den Berg)
  • Balinese: “barren field” (source: J.L. Swellengrebel in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 75ff. )
  • Wantoat: “uninhabited place” (source: Holzhausen 1991, p. 38)
  • Umiray Dumaget Agta: “where no people dwell” (source: Larson 1998, p. 98)
  • Shipibo-Conibo: “where no house is” (source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
  • Amri Karbi: “waterless region/place” (source: Philippova 2021, p. 368)
  • Ocotlán Zapotec: “large empty place” (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Pa’o Karen: “jungle” (denoting a place without any towns, villages and tilled fields) (source: Gordon Luce in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 153f. )
  • Low German translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006: “steppe”
  • Yakan: “the lonely place” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “a land where no people lived” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “the place with no inhabitants” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Matumbi uses various term: lubele (desert, sandy place without water) — used in John 11:54, lupu’ngu’ti (a place where no people live, can be a scrub land, a forest, or a savanna) — used in Mark 1:3 et al.), and mwitu (a forest, a place where wild animals live) — used in Mark 1:13 et al.) (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Chichewa Contemporary translation (2002/2016): chipululu: a place uninhabited by people with thick forest and bush (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

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.

Reuben

The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Reuben” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “head” or “leader” referring to the position he had among his brothers as the firstborn. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Reuben” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Reuben (son of Jacob) and the Tribe of Reuben .

complete verse (Genesis 37:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:22:

  • Kankanaey: “How-about if we only drop him in this well in this place with no inhabitants, because it would be bad if we injured-him.’ That’s what he said, because it was his intention to go withdraw Jose from the well in order to send-him-home to his father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Don’t talk about shedding blood. Rather, we will drop him into a well that has no water here in the wilderness, and leave him [there]. Do not lift a hand at all.’ Rueben, by saving him from their hands had thought to bring him to his father later on.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (pl.)] just throw him into the well here in the/a desolate-place, but [you (pl.)] do- not ever -kill him.’ Reuben said that because (it was) now his plan to-save Jose and return (him) to their father.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Do not even shed his blood! We can throw him into this pit/cistern in the desert, but we should not harm him.’ He said that, and then left them, planning to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:22

And Reuben said to them: since the previous verse ends with Reuben speaking, some adjustment may be needed here. Some translations say “And then he said” or “He went on to say.” Others join the speeches of Reuben in verses 21 and 22 into a single speech and do not repeat “he said” here.

Shed no blood repeats in different words what Reuben has just said in verse 21. Note that Good News Translation does not repeat it.

Cast him into this pit here in the wilderness: Reuben is against killing Joseph but is in agreement to throw him into one of the empty cisterns. The Hebrew word rendered pit by Revised Standard Version and “well” by Good News Translation may also refer to a cistern for catching runoff water. According to verse 24 this hole in the ground was dry at the time. “Well” should not be used if the local word refers only to a hole containing water.

But lay no hand upon him: this expression is another way of saying “but do not injure him” or “leave him unhurt.”

That he might rescue him out of their hand: he is Reuben and him is Joseph. Their hand refers to the brothers who want to kill Joseph. Translators may need to make clear how that he might … father is related to Reuben’s instructions to his brothers. Note Good News Translation: “He said this, planning to save him….” We may also translate, for example, “Reuben said this because he wanted to rescue Joseph and return him to his father” or “He was thinking of getting Joseph out and taking him back to his father; that’s why he said that.”

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 .