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 15:62)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 15:62:

  • Kupsabiny: “Nibshan, the City of Salt and En-gedi. They became six towns together with their villages.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Nibshan, the City of Salt and En-Gedi.
    All these six cities and their surrounding villages.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Nibshan, the city of Asin and En Gedi — 6 towns/cities, including the villages around them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Nibshan, Salt city, and En-Gedi. There were six towns altogether with their surrounding villages.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 15:61 - 15:62

ELEVENTH (TWELFTH) DISTRICT: cities in the arid region of the eastern slopes, which reached down to the Jordan Valley. Engedi was about halfway down the length of the Dead Sea, on its west bank.

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 .