Jordan

The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jordan River .

complete verse (2 Kings 6:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 6:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Elisha went with those people. They went and when they had reached the river Jordan, those people cut down (some) trees.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So he went with them.
    After they reached the bank of the Jordan river they began to cut down a trees.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So he went with them.
    They went to the River Jordan and cut-down trees.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So they went together. When they reached the Jordan River, they cut down some trees.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 6:4

So: The common Hebrew conjunction here is taken as a logical connector by Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, and American Bible. Others, however, prefer the ordinary coordinating conjunction in English (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version). Naturalness in the receptor language should determine which form is used in translation.

To the Jordan; that is, to the area near the Jordan River where there was relatively dense forest. For the Jordan, see the comments on verse 2.

They cut down trees: It is unclear whether or not Elisha was included in this activity. Since the action of chopping down trees continues in the following verse, it will be more natural in certain languages to translate “they began to cut down trees” (so New International Version).

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 6:4

6:4a So Elisha went with them,

So Elisha went with them.

-or-

Elisha then went with the other/young prophets ⌊to the Jordan river⌋ .

6:4b and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees.

They reached the Jordan ⌊River⌋ and began to cut down some trees.

-or-

⌊When they arrived,⌋ they started cutting down trees.

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