drawn sword

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “drawn sword” in English is translated in Newari as “naked sword” (source: Newari Back Translation).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Josh 5:13)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding the man.

Joshua

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Joshua” is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign that depicts a trumpet of rams’ horn, referring to Joshua 6:4 and following.


“Joshua” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joshua .

complete verse (Joshua 5:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 5:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “One day when Joshua had gone near to Jericho, he saw a person standing in front of him with a sword in hand. Joshua approached that person and asked, ‘Are you an enemy or are you ours?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man holding a sword in his hand standing before him. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or are you of our enemies?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “While Josue (was) there near Jerico, suddenly he saw a man standing before him holding a sword. Josue asked him, ‘(Are) you (sing.) our (excl.) soldier [yes/no question particle] or (an) enemy?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day when Joshua came near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man was holding a sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked him, ‘Are you going to fight for us or against us?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)