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 8:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 8:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Joshua prepared to send all the soldiers for the raid towards that city so they could fight (it). He chose thirty thousand soldiers to go in front in the night.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Joshua went to fight near Ai with the whole army. He chose 30,000 soldiers who were able to fight well and sent them out at night.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Josue and all his soldiers prepared to-attack Ai. Josue chose 30,000 soldiers who (were) very good in fighting and sent- (them) -out at night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Joshua led all his army toward Ai. He chose 30,000 of his best fighters/warriors and prepared to send them out during the night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”

This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

Translation commentary on Joshua 8:3 - 8:4

Got ready translates the Hebrew verb “rise” (see Revised Standard Version). This verb is often used in the Old Testament as an auxiliary which means to prepare to do something or to begin doing something; it does not mean, as the English verb “arise” implies, that the subject has been sitting or lying down (see also in verse 1 “and arise, go up to Ai,” Revised Standard Version; Good News Translation go on up to Ai). See 1.2.

So Joshua got ready to go to Ai with all his soldiers may give two false implications: (1) got ready to go may imply that he made preparations but did not go; and (2) with all his soldiers could suggest that Joshua himself was leading the entire force as a unit to attack the city. Since, as indicated in the previous paragraph, the Hebrew verb rendered got ready frequently functions merely as an auxiliary of the main verb, it is not necessary always to represent it in translation. Therefore “got ready to go up” may even mean “went up” (see the comment on “go up” in verse 1). These two potential problems may be resolved, and a smooth transition made from the previous verse, if this verse is begun as follows: “So before Joshua went up against Ai with his main force, he picked out thirty thousand of his best troops. Then he sent them out at night 4 and told them….”

Joshua selects thirty thousand of his best soldiers and tells them to lie in ambush west of the city, not very far from it. This seems to be a very large number (see in verse 12 where only about five thousand men are actually stationed there). Gray thinks that thirty thousand may be a scribal error for three thousand, and a few translations place three thousand in the text, with a footnote: “Hebrew thirty thousand.” From the Israelite camp at Gilgal to Ai was about 25 kilometers.

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 .