Anakim / giants

The Hebrew that is either transliterated as “Anakim” or translated as “giants” in English is translated in Manya as “big, amazing people.” (Source: Don Slager)

complete verse (Joshua 11:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 11:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those people of Anakites did not remain in the area of Israel even though a few remained in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Not even a single Anakite remained in the land of the Israelites. Only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did some remain.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Anak had-no descendants remaining in the territory of the Israelinhon, but there-were still (some) of them remaining in Gaza, Gat, and in Ashdod.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “As a result, there were no descendants of Anak who remained alive in Israel. Only a few remained alive in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod cities.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 11:22

Israel (literally “the land of the descendants of Israel”) means the whole country and includes the same territory referred to as Judah and Israel in the previous verse. Therefore it would be less confusing not to mention Israel by name in this verse. Accordingly one may translate “He killed all of the Anakim who lived in the land, except for a few who lived in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.”

Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod were Philistine cities on the Mediterranean coastal plain.

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 .