sunrise, sunset

The Hebrew and Greek terms that is translated as “sunrise” and “sunset” or similar in English are translated in Chichewa as “sun coming out” and “sun entering.” The understanding is that the sun moves and that when it is evening it goes back where it belongs. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also periods of the night.

Joshua

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Joshua” is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign that depicts a trumpet of rams’ horn, referring to Joshua 6:4 and following.


“Joshua” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joshua .

complete verse (Joshua 10:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 10:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the sun had set, he said that the bodies should be removed and buried in the cave where they had hidden when they were still alive. They were thrown into the cave and big stones were placed at the entrance of that cave. Those stones are there to this day.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When the sun had set Joshua gave the order and they were taken down from the poles and thrown into the same cave where they had been hiding. Big rocks were placed before the mouth of the cave. Those rocks are still there even today.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When the sun had- already -set, Josue had- their corpses/dead-bodies -taken-down and had-thrown into the cave where they had-hid. Then the mouth of the cave was-covered with large stones. These stones (are) still there until now.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “At sunset, Joshua told them to take the bodies down from the trees and throw them into the cave where they had been hiding. So the soldiers did that, and then they put those large rocks at the entrance of the cave again. Those rocks are still there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 10:26 - 10:27

After executing the five kings, Joshua had their bodies strung up on five trees (or impaled on five posts; see comments on 8.29), where they stayed until sundown—as was done to the king of Ai (8.29). Their bodies were then thrown back into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and the pile of huge stones placed at the entrance of the cave was still there at the time of the writing of the account (verse 27).

Whereas 8.29 leaves open the possibility that the king of Ai was killed by being impaled on a tree or a post, it is now specifically stated that the five kings were killed before their bodies were hanged on five trees. So the problem of the sequence of events is here resolved for the translator. It may be that Joshua killed the kings, but it is quite unlikely that he alone hanged them on the five trees. One may then translate either “Then Joshua killed the kings and ordered his men to hang them on five trees” or “Then Joshua ordered his men to kill the kings and hang them on five trees.” For economy’s sake verses 26-27 may be placed together:

• Then Joshua killed the kings and ordered his men to hang their bodies on five trees. In the evening he gave orders for their bodies to be taken down and to be thrown into the same cave where they had hidden earlier.

If direct discourse is preferable, two options are available:

• (1) Joshua killed the kings. Then he told his men, “Hang their bodies on five trees.” At sunset Joshua gave his men further orders. He said. “Take their bodies down and throw them into the cave where they hid themselves earlier.”

• (2) Joshua told his men, “Kill the kings and hang their bodies on five trees.” …

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .