complete verse (Judges 19:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 19:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then those people set off, but when they arrived at Gibeah in the country of Benjamin, the sun was setting.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So they went on. When they approached Gibeah in the tribal area of Benjamin, the sun went down.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore they continued to walk. The sun is-setting now when they arrived in Gibea which is part-of the tribe of Benjamin.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So they continued walking. When they came near Gibeah, where people from the tribe of Benjamin live, the sun was setting.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Judges 19:14

So they passed on and went their way is literally “And they passed on and went.” For the ironic use of the Hebrew verb rendered passed on, see verse 19.12.

And the sun went down on them is literally “and the sun came to them,” another idiomatic expression that means the sun had set (compare the expressions in verse 19.8-9, 11). Most languages will have an idiomatic way to express this idea. The literal phrase on them does not need to be kept in the translation, unless it is part of a natural expression.

Near Gibe-ah, which belongs to Benjamin: Once again Gibe-ah is literally “the Gibeah,” but most languages will omit the definite marker. Which belongs to Benjamin means Gibeah was in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. This is the first time the name Benjamin appears in this appendix, though the name itself seems to form an inclusio around the whole book (verse 1.21; verse 21.23).

Two translation models for this verse are:

• So they continued along the road. As they came close to Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, the sun went down.

• So they kept going, and as the sun set, they came to Gibeah, a town belonging to the tribe of Benjamin.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .