2:11a

When we heard this: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates When we heard this is more literally “and we heard.”

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

When we heard that news
-or-
We heard about that

2:11b

our hearts melted: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as melted is a different verb from the one used in verse 2:9d. It can also be translated “dissolve.” This is a Hebrew idiom. It means that they were very afraid.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Our hearts shook with fear
-or-
We were very afraid

2:11c

and everyone’s courage failed: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as everyone’s courage failed is more literally “there no longer arose breath in a man.” It is a Hebrew idiom. It means that they were very afraid of the Israelites.

In some languages it is not possible to use two phrases with such similar meanings. If this is true in your language, you could combine 2:11b-c and say, “we were very afraid.”

because of you: The phrase because of you indicates the reason for the fear. The people of Canaan were very afraid of the Israelites.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

There was no spirit left in us on account of ⌊what we had heard about⌋ you.
-or-
Everyone’s courage disappeared because of what you had done.

2:11d

for: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why the Canaanites were frightened. They were frightened because of Yahweh.

the LORD your God: The Hebrew uses the name of God, Yahweh. The phrase your God indicates that he was the God of the Israelites.

is God in the heavens above and on the earth below: The Hebrew sentence is more literally “for Yahweh your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” The pronoun “he” emphasizes that it is Yahweh alone who is God over both heaven and earth. Use a natural way to show this emphasis.

in the heavens above: In some languages it will not be natural to say both in the heavens and above. If this is so in your language, you can say “in heaven.”

on the earth below: If it is not natural to translate both on the earth and below, you can translate this as “on earth.”

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

because it is Yahweh your God who is God ⌊and rules⌋ over heaven and the earth
-or-
Yahweh your God is the only God. He rules over heaven above and over the earth below

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