complete verse (Numbers 2:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 2:31:

  • Kupsabiny:

    Three clans shall set up on the North side and the clan of Dan shall be in charge. Those clans are these:

    Clan Leader Number of soldiers
    Dan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai 62,700
    Asher Pagiel son of Ochran 41,500
    Naphtali Ahira son of Enan 53,400

    Total/all is 157,600.
    The community of Dan shall be going/moving after the others as their flags are.

    (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)

  • Newari: “Altogether, the number of those who were in the camp of Dan was 157,600. When the Israelites move from place to place, their section will be last in line, proceeding under their own banners.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “157,600 (in) all (are) the numbers of these group which the tribe of Dan is-leading. These (were) the last group whenever the Israelinhon go/travel/[lit. walk]. They all are-to-walk under their banner.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So there will be 157,600 troops on the north side of the Sacred Tent. Those three tribes will be last. They must carry their own flags when the Israelis travel.’” (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.

Japanese benefactives (yōishite)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, yōishite (用意して) or “prepare” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Numbers 2:25 - 2:31

Most of the comments on verses 3-9 apply here as well. The LORD’s direct speech to Moses and Aaron ends with verse 31.

On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan means Dan and the other tribes in its group must camp on the north side of the Tent of Meeting. The cardinal point north may be difficult to translate. In some languages, with an orientation toward the rising sun (east), north is spoken of as being on the “left hand.” The camp of Dan refers to the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali.

The leader of the people of Dan being Ahi-ezer the son of Ammishaddai: See 1.12.

And those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: The pronoun him refers to the tribe of Dan. Contemporary English Version makes this clear by rendering this clause as “On one side of Dan will be the tribe of Asher.”

The leader of the people of Asher being Pagiel the son of Ochran: See 1.13.

In some languages it will be more natural and seem less repetitive if Then the tribe of Naphtali (verse 29) is moved to the beginning of verse 27, combining it with the tribe of Asher as follows: “Those to camp next to the tribe of Dan shall be the tribes of Asher and Naphtali….”

The leader of the people of Naphtali being Ahira the son of Enan: See 1.15.

They shall set out last, standard by standard: The pronoun They refers to the three tribes under the banner of Dan. Set out renders the same Hebrew verb as at the end of verse 9 (see the comments there). Standard by standard is literally “by their standards” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; compare New International Version with “under their standards,” and Chewa with “following their flags”). The pronoun “their” refers to the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. Since this phrase helps mark the close of a discourse unit, it should not be simply omitted as in Good News Translation.

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 .