red

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “red” in English is translated in Silimo with a local reference: “the colour of the red rocks used to dye nets” (source: Buzz and Myrna Maxey ).

complete verse (2 Kings 3:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 3:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “But as they got up the next morning, the sun was reflecting in the water but/and the water was colored red like blood.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When they got up in the morning of the next day, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites the water before them looked red, like blood.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When they got-up in-the-morning, they saw the water seemed as red as blood when the sun shined-on-it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But when they rose early the next morning, they saw that the water across from them appeared to be as red as blood.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 3:22

When they rose early in the morning: It should be made clear to all readers that the subject pronoun they refers to the soldiers of Moab. Good News Translation leaves implicit the fact that the Moabite army got up early.

Opposite them; that is, in front of them or in the direction in which they were looking. New Century Version has “across from them.”

As red as blood: It is possible that a miracle is intended. It is also possible that this was an illusion seen by the Moabites, which resulted from their observing the rising sun reflected from the red sandstone in the area on the water left by the flash floods. The redness made them think that it was blood. The Hebrew text contains a play on words that will not be possible to translate in most languages. The Hebrew name Edom (ʾedom) has the same consonants as the Hebrew word for red (ʾadom).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Kings 3:22

3:22a When they got up early in the morning,

When these men/soldiers rose early the next day,

-or-

And next morning when the Moabite men awoke,

3:22b the sun was shining on the water,

the sun shone upon the water.

-or-

they saw the sunlight shining/reflecting on the water ⌊in the valley⌋ .

3:22c and it looked as red as blood

The water looked red like blood.

-or-

The water had/appeared the color of blood

3:22d to the Moabites across the way.

from where the Moabites were, across the wadi/stream.

-or-

from where they were standing.

3:22a-d (reordered)

The Moabite men got up in the morning and saw from across the wadi/stream the water looking as red as blood where the sun was shining on it.

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