19She said to him, “Give me a present; since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
In these verses, the Hebrew that is translated as “gift” or “blessing” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-iwai (お祝い), combining “celebratory gift” (iriyō) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
The term that is transliterated as “Caleb” in English is translated in American Sign Language with one variation of the sign for “watch,” a reference to the fact that Caleb was one of the twelve who surveyed the Promised Land. The sign also alludes to watchdogs, a reference to Caleb’s enduring loyalty to God. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Caleb” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “spy.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 15:19:
Kupsabiny: “She replied to her father, ‘I want you to bless me. Since you have given me a dry land in the south, give me also water holes/springs.’ Then her father gave her water holes which were on the upper side and the lower side.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “She said, "Please give me another gift. As you have given me land in the Negev, so now also give me springs." So he gave her both the upper and lower springs as dowry.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Acsa replied, ‘Do/[lit. give] me a favor, I would/[lit. wish] like for you (sing.) to-give me springs, for the land which you (sing.) have-given me in Negev has-no spring.’ So Caleb gave her the place that has springs in the upper and the lower (place).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Acsah replied, ‘Yes, I want you to do something for me. You have given me some land in the southern part of Canaan, but there is no water there. So please give me some land that has springs.’ So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs near Hebron.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
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 to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.
In reply to Caleb’s question, Achsah says “I want a blessing” (see Revised Standard Version)—the word “blessing” here meaning “present, gift.” It is possible to translate so that the girl’s answer to her father more adequately expresses the original cultural setting: “She answered, ‘Give me your blessing as I leave your home. And as a sign of this blessing, give me a gift. I want some water holes….’ ” Or “She answered, ‘… a gift. You have already given me some land, but it is in the dry country. So now I want you go give me some water holes.’ ”
“The land of the Negeb” (Revised Standard Version) is the dry country in the south. In response to her request, Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. Although the locations of the upper and lower springs are not further defined, it is quite likely that the geographical point of reference is the city of Hebron. Therefore, if it is necessary in the receptor language to be specific: “the upper and lower springs near the city of Hebron.”
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 .
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