measurement / measuring line

The now commonly-used German term Richtschnur or “guideline,” was made popular in 1534 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther in the meaning of “divine measurement / measuring line.” (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

complete verse (Jeremiah 31:39)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 31:39:

  • Kupsabiny: “The border will stretch from there to the hill of Gareb and then go round like that until Goah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From those places, the boundary will-continue to the hill of Gareb then turning to Goa.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Workers will stretch a measuring line/string over Gareb Hill all the way southwest to Goah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 31:39

The measuring line is the boundary line of the city, as Good News Translation makes clear.

The hill Gareb and Goah are of uncertain location. But since verse 38 marks out the northern boundary of the city, and verse 40 evidently gives the southern and eastern boundaries, it is assumed that the western boundary of the city is marked out by these two locations. If this is the case, then a person would move in a southwesterly direction from Gareb to Goah.

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 .