complete verse (Deuteronomy 3:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 3:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “(The people of Sidon called that mountain Sirion, the Amorites called it Senir.)” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “(Herman is called Sirion by the Sidonians and Senir by the Amorites.)” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(This Hermon is-called by the Sidonhon Sirion, and is-called by the Amornon Senir.)” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “(That mountain is called Sirion by the people of Sidon city and is called Senir by the Amor people-group.)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:9

This verse is, so to speak, a footnote, added to the text by someone other than the original writer. It explains that Hermon was also called Sirion and Senir.

A translation should end verse 8 with a full stop, and have verse 9 in parentheses, as a complete sentence (see Good News Translation). Verse 10 will then begin a new complete sentence. Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version do not do this and so make it very difficult for public reading.

Sidonians: people of Sidon, a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast, north of Israel.

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 .