complete verse (Judges 20:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 20:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people of the clan of Benjamin came out from the city and killed on that day twenty-two thousand people of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Benjaminites from Gibeah came out and they killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The Benjaminhon came-out from Gibea to attack them. And in that day only, 22,000 Israelinhon were killed by the Benjaminhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The men of the tribe of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and fought against them, and they killed 22,000 Israeli men on that day.” (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 Judges 20:21

After the Israelites lined up for battle, the people of Benjamin in Gibeah charged out from the city and attacked the Israelite troops. Revised Standard Version leaves untranslated the Hebrew waw conjunction at the beginning of this verse, but it may be rendered “Then” or even “All of a sudden.”

The Benjaminites came out of Gibe-ah: The Benjaminites is literally “the sons [or, children] of Benjamin.” Came out renders the same Hebrew verb (yatsaʾ) used throughout this book, being especially prominent when the men of Gibeah demanded that the old Ephraimite “Bring out” the Levite (verse 19.22). Here the meaning is that they “came out to fight,” which may be made explicit. We might say “charged out of Gibeah” or “launched an attack from Gibeah.” There is something unusual in this battle plan. Usually attackers set ambushes and when the soldiers come out of their town, they are attacked and defeated (see verse 9.35). Here it is the exact opposite.

And felled to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites is literally “and they killed in Israel on that day 22,000 man to [the] ground.” Revised Standard Version‘s rendering may give the mistaken impression that the Benjaminites knocked the Israelites down. The Hebrew verb here can mean “ruin” or “spoil,” as well as “destroy” or “kill.” New Jerusalem Bible says “massacred,” New Revised Standard Version has “struck down,” and New International Version uses “cut down.” Ground renders the key Hebrew term ʾerets that often refers to the Promised Land throughout the Old Testament. In Hebrew the phrase to the ground occurs at the very end of this verse. Good News Translation and many other versions leave these words implied, but Contemporary English Version gives an effective rendering: “and when the day was over, 22,000 Israelite soldiers lay dead on the ground.”

On that day renders a Hebrew phrase that may refer to a general time, rather than a single day, so it may be translated “at that time” (see verse 20.15). Good News Translation suggests “before the day was over.” Another possible model is “during the battle that day.”

Instead of writing out the number twenty-two thousand, some languages may prefer to use the figure “22,000” (New Living Translation).

Some scholars think that not all of the Israelite men on the ground were dead, but rather wounded. But most versions understand the text to mean that 22,000 men actually died. The text says nothing about the Benjaminite losses, leading some scholars to think that none of them died. However, it does not seem realistic that Israel suffered such heavy losses, while none of the Benjaminites were killed. But since the text does not make this clear, all translators can do is render the text as it stands.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Then the Benjaminites launched an attack from Gibeah and killed 22,000 Israelites that day.

• Then the Benjaminites attacked out of Gibeah, and on that day they left 22,000 Israelite soldiers dead on the ground.

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 .