complete verse (Joshua 6:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 6:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “The gates of Jericho were shut so no one could go out or come in to the city because, those people had become scared of the people of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “By reason of the Israelites all the gates of Jericho were firmly closed. No one came out, no one went in.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jerico was shut-up tightly/[lit. very well] by the ones who-were-living there because of the Israelinhon. No people could-go-in or could-go-out of the city.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Meanwhile, the guards of Jericho shut the gates of the city tightly, because they were afraid of the Israeli army. No one was allowed to go into the city or go out of it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 6:1

The city is described as being completely closed to all outgoing or incoming traffic. Were kept shut and guarded translates two verbal participles, one active and the other passive; a literal rendering would be “had shut and was shut.” This suggests that a siege has been going on for some time as the narrative begins. It may be necessary to indicate who shut and guarded the gates of Jericho. For example, “The men of Jericho kept the city gates shut and guarded so that the Israelites could not get in.”

Similarly the second sentence may be rendered, “The men would not let anyone enter or leave the city.” A literal rendering of the text such as Revised Standard Version (“none went out, and none came in”), if interpreted according to strict rules of English grammar, would mean “none of the people of Israel went out or came in.” But the reference is to the people of the city, as New English Bible also makes explicit: “No one went out, no one came in.”

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 .