complete verse (Numbers 13:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 13:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Look at how that land of Canaan is, its people be fierce or weak, many or few.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then find out how the land is, whether the people who live there are strong or weak, many or few.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) see/look what the land looks-like/[lit. what is the face of the land], and if the people there are strong or weak and if they are many or just few.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “See what the land is like. See if the people who live there are strong or weak. See if there are many people or only a few people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 13:18

And see what the land is: Moses wants the spies to find out a number of things about the land of Canaan.

And whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak: First he wants to know how powerful its people are.

Whether they are few or many: He also wants to know how many people live there.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .