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 .

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (Joshua 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 10:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “He said to those kings, ‘Come to our aid, comrades, come we go to fight the city of Gibeon because they have made a peace treaty with Joshua together with the people of Israel.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Please, you come to me and help fight with Gibeon, for the people living there have made a treaty with Joshua and the Israelites.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This was his message: [You (plur.)] help me to-attack Gibeon because it has-made-friends-together with Josue and with the Israelinhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “In the message he said, ‘Please come up with your armies and help me to attack Gibeon, because the people of Gibeon have made a peace treaty with Joshua and the Israelis.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (tasukete)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, tasukete (助けて) or “help” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Joshua 10:4

Adonizedek proposes they attack Gibeon for having made peace, that is, alliance, with the Israelites. It may be beneficial to reverse the order of the two clauses: “The people of Gibeon have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites. So come and help me attack them.”

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 .