In Hebrew the structure of this verse is quite distinctive. Though Revised Standard Version begins with the imperative, Tell of it, this expression occurs at the end of the verse. The verse begins with three parallel participial clauses that identify those addressed and concludes with an imperative. It reads literally:

Those riding on tawny donkeys,
those sitting on saddle blankets,
and those walking on the road,
ponder!

These lines could be a call to the same set of people or to two or three different groups. Several versions see a progression from rich people, those who ride on donkeys, to poorer ones, those who walk (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Tell of it renders a Hebrew verb that can mean “think about,” “ponder,” or “meditate on,” so New International Version says “consider.” It can also mean “complain out loud” or “speak out loud,” which seems behind the Revised Standard Version rendering. In Hebrew there is no word corresponding to the pronoun it, but many languages will need to add an object here. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “declare it.” Good News Translation puts “Tell of it” in the text and “Think about [it]” in a footnote. Some languages may prefer to be more explicit by saying “Consider what the LORD has done” or “Meditate on this victory.” Many versions prefer to place this imperative at the beginning of the verse as Revised Standard Version has done. However, New Jerusalem Bible follows the Hebrew order and puts the verb at the end of this verse, but its rendering “sing” does not seem accurate. New International Version presents this verb as introducing what follows in the next verse, saying “consider sup 11sup* the voice of the singers at the watering places.” Translators should study this verse and the next one and see how to best present the ideas here, all the while not forgetting that we are dealing with poetic lines.

You who ride on tawny asses is the first group of addressees. You who ride renders a Hebrew participle, which is literally “those riding” or “ones riding.” Revised Standard Version adds the pronoun you to help the reader know these people are being addressed. Ride translates a Hebrew verb that means “mount and ride” or “ride in a chariot.” Here the object is donkeys, so a verb used for mounting or riding a horse or donkey should be used. Tawny asses are light-colored donkeys. For asses see the comments on verse 1.14, where a different Hebrew word is used. The word for asses here refers specifically to female donkeys, so Revised English Bible says “she-donkeys,” but many versions simply say “donkeys” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Female donkeys were the common means of transport in biblical times, transporting both people and goods. In languages where donkeys are unknown, an expression such as “small beasts of burden” or “small horses” could be used. The Hebrew word for tawny refers to a color that many versions suggest is “white” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). However, it is more likely that this word refers to a light color, closer to gray. In languages with few colors, translators might say “clear” or “light.” This detail may imply that lighter colored donkeys were favored or more expensive than darker ones. Even though in some cultures riding on donkeys would not be a sign of status, in biblical times just possessing a donkey meant the person was fairly wealthy. This whole line may be rendered “those of you who ride light-colored donkeys.”

You who sit on rich carpets: Many scholars think this line refers to the same people as in the previous one. This would mean the people who sit on rich carpets are riding on donkeys (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). This seems logical, but others see a reference to another group of people of slightly lower status (Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Like the previous line, you who sit renders a Hebrew participle, which is literally “those sitting.” Once again, Revised Standard Version adds the pronoun you to express the idea that these people are being addressed. The Hebrew word rendered rich carpets can also mean “saddles” (Good News Translation) or “saddle-blankets” (New Jerusalem Bible). To avoid direct contact with riding animals and to provide a more comfortable seat, people placed small rugs or leather saddles on beasts of burden (that is, horses, donkeys, or camels). This line may be rendered “those of you who sit on [saddle] blankets.” Translators will need to decide whether or not this line describes the same people as in the previous one. If they describe the same group of people, one possible rendering for both lines is “you who ride on light-colored donkeys, seated on comfortable saddles.”

And you who walk by the way is literally “and those walking on the road.” The Hebrew verb here means “go” or “walk.” Though it is possible to consider this line as referring to the same people as in the first two lines, most versions believe there is a contrast here between rich people who can afford donkeys and those who are forced to walk. New American Bible takes the first approach, seeing only one group: “They who ride on white asses, seated on saddlecloths, as they go their way.” However, most see a contrast with these people “who go on foot” (New Jerusalem Bible). Good News Translation has “you that must walk wherever you go.”

For this whole verse Contemporary English Version says:

Listen, everyone!
Whether you ride a donkey
with a padded saddle
or have to walk.

Though several interpretations of this verse are possible, it seems likely that the singers are calling out to all members of the community, including all classes of people to “consider” what the LORD has done. If this wider interpretation is adopted, a possible model is:

• “You who ride on light-colored donkeys,
sitting [comfortably] on padded saddles,
and you too, who are forced to walk on foot,
consider [what the LORD has done]!

If only one group is understood to be in view, this verse may be rendered as follows:

• “Think about it, people!
You who ride light-colored donkeys,
on comfortable saddles,
as you go on your way.

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 .