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 18:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 18:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “Kephar-ammoni, Ophni and Geba. That became twelve cities together with their villages.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Kephar-Ammoni, Ophni, Geba — twelve cities and all their villages.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Kefar Amoni, Ofni, and Geba — 12 towns/cities, including the villages around them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Kephar-Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba. Altogether there were fourteen towns and the surrounding villages.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 18:21 - 18:28

Two lists of cities are given, presumably in two districts; the first one names twelve cities in all, along with the towns around them (verses 21-24); the second one, fourteen cities and the surrounding towns (verses 25-28).

It is possible to translate verses 21-24 as a unit and to do the same with verses 25-28:
21-24 There were twelve cities, along with the towns around them, which belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. These cities were: Jericho … and Geba.
25-28 There were another fourteen cities, along with the towns around them, which also belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. These cities were: Gibeon … and Kiriath Jearim. This is the land which Joshua assigned to the tribes of Benjamin.

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 .