Translation commentary on Numbers 21:34

But the LORD said to Moses: The conjunction But (literally “And”) suggests that the arrival of Og’s army made the Israelites afraid, as indeed expressed in the LORD’s words. Whichever connector sounds most natural in the target language in this particular setting may be used. Perhaps simply “Then” is sufficient. The LORD promises Moses that the same will happen in the fight against Og that happened against Sihon: he will hand Og and his army over to the Israelites, who will defeat them completely.

Do not fear him: Contemporary English Version makes the referent for the pronoun him clear by saying “Don’t be afraid of Og,” which other languages may find helpful.

For I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land: The future event is spoken of here as having already taken place to highlight that it will certainly happen. Some languages may prefer a future tense here (so Good News Bible). For the figurative expression I have given him into your hand, see verse 2. Good News Bible uses nonfigurative language, saying “I will give you victory over him.” However, some languages may be able to use this idiom or a similar one, for example, “I have delivered him into your hands.” NCV renders this whole clause as “I will hand him, his whole army, and his land over to you.”

And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon: The generic verb do may be made more specific by saying “defeat,” “conquer,” or even “destroy” in view of verse 35. This whole sentence may be rendered “Destroy him just as you destroyed King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Numbers 6:26

The LORD lift up his countenance on you: Good News Bible expresses well the meaning of the imagery here by saying “May the LORD look on you with favor.” “Favor” is a general word for the more specific concepts of peace, prosperity, health and well-being, which are all included in the Hebrew word for peace (shalom). (The opposite of this whole expression is found in Deut 31.18, where the LORD hides his face as a sign of disfavor or withdrawal of support.) Like Good News Bible, NBV also expresses the meaning of this clause and keeps some of the imagery by saying “may the LORD turn his face toward you,” and so does Chichewa with “May Chauta [the LORD] gaze upon you with mercy.”

And give you peace: This is the rendering that many translations have. However, the Hebrew verb for give (sim) expresses a more dynamic action. This verb means “put in place,” “make to work,” “appoint,” or “establish,” so this clause is better rendered “and make/establish peace for you” (compare Psa 147.14) or “and put peace into place for you.” Good models for this clause are “and put peace in you” (Reina-Valera revisida, Reina-Valera Contemporánea), “and bring you peace” (La Bible de Jérusalem: Nouvelle édition revue et corrigée), and “and fill you with peace” (La Biblia: Traducción en Lenguaje Actual). The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) does not refer simply to an absence of conflict, but to well-being and wholeness, both physically and spiritually.

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 .