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 15:59)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 15:59:

  • Kupsabiny: “Maarath, Beth-anoth and Eltekon. They became six towns together with their villages.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Maarath, Beth-anoth and Eltekon.
    All these six cities and their surrounding villages.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Maarat, Bet Anot, and Eltekon — 6 towns/cities, including the villages around them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Maarath, Beth-Anoth, and Eltekon. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 15:58 - 15:59

NINTH DISTRICT: cities in the highlands, north of Hebron.

The Septuagint adds another district at the end of verse 50, as follows: “Tekoa, Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), Peor, Etam, Culon, Tatam, Shoresh, Cerem, Gallim, Bether, and Manach: eleven cities, along with the towns around them.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project (“A” decision) believes that the Septuagint preserves the original text here, and recommends that this material be included, New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, and Jerusalem Bible include it. In light of the firm decision of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project (also Gray, Soggin, Smith) and the inclusion of this material by the translations cited, a translator will be justified in including it.

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 .