village

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “village” or “town” in English is translated in Noongar as karlamaya or “fire (used for “home“) + houses” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Elhomwe it is typically translated as “place.” “Here in Malawi, villages very small, so changed to ‘places,’ since not sure whether biblical reference just to small villages or also to bigger towns. (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Joshua 15:46)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 15:46:

  • Kupsabiny: “Others were all the cities between Ekron and the ocean, those near Ashdod,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “including from Ekron to the sea
    and all the cities towards Asdod,
    and up to their villages.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and all the cities and towns/cities near Ashdod from Ekron going-toward the Sea of Mediteraneo.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns close to the Mediterranean Sea with their surrounding villages: Ekron and the towns between Ekron and the coast, Ashdod, and Gaza. The area extended south to the dry riverbed on the border of Egypt.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Joshua 15:45 - 15:47

FIFTH DISTRICT: cities in the Philistine coastal area.

Ashdod was about 22 kilometers west of Ekron; Gaza was about 68 kilometers southwest of Ashdod. The other two Philistine cities, Ashkelon and Gath, are not included.

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 .