Hail

The Hebrew and Ge’ez that is translated as “hail” in English is translated in Tagakaulo as batu na ayis or “rocks of ice.” (Source: Scott and Becky Burton in Holzhausen / Riderer 2010, p. 73)

complete verse (Exodus 9:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 9:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “It was Goshen alone where the Israelites lived that remained unbeaten by the hailstones in the land of Egypt.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The only place where hail did not fall was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The only (place) which was- not -rained-upon with ice was Goshen where the Israelinhon live.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “But only in the area of Gosen, in which the Israel people were living, the hard raindrops didn’t fall at all.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Place where hail not there fell, it is Goshen where people of Israel live there only.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Only in the Goshen region, where the Israeli people were living, was there no hail.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 9:26

Only in the land of Goshen brings out an important exception that seems to weaken the emphasis on “all the land of Egypt.” The idea that the people of Israel were not affected by the plagues has already been suggested in 8.22 and 9.4, since they were living together in Goshen. It was “the best of the land” (Gen 47.6), where the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time had placed their ancestors, and was still a part of Egypt in Moses’ time. That was “the only place where there was no hail” (Good News Translation). One may also express this as “the only place where hail didn’t fall.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .