complete verse (Deuteronomy 3:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 3:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “I pray that you allow me to cross the river Jordan to go and see that beautiful land of hills together with Lebanon.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Please allow me to go to the other side to look at the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan, the pleasant land of mountains and Lebanon."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore if possible, allow me to cross-over so-that I can see the good land beyond Jordan, the beautiful mountains and the mountains of Lebanon.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So please allow me to cross the Jordan River and to see the good/fertile land on the west side, the beautiful hilly area and the mountains in Lebanon.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:25

Let me go over: that is, “Let me cross the Jordan River,” or “Let me go to the other side of the Jordan.”

I pray: this represents in English the Hebrew particle of polite entreaty. In many languages it will be necessary to use an equivalent polite formula here; for example, “Please let me cross the Jordan River…” (Contemporary English Version).

The good land: it is good as a place that will make a good country for the Israelites, a fertile land. So we may say “a fertile land,” or “a land that will grow good crops.”

Beyond the Jordan: on the west side of the river.

That goodly hill country: that is, that beautiful, or fine, hill country. For hill country see 1.1.

Lebanon: the Lebanon Mountains, to the north.

In some languages Moses’ quote (verses 24-25) will end with something like “That is what I said to Yahweh.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .