Gomorrah

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is transliterated as “Gomorrah” in English is transliterated in Mandarin Chinese as émólā (蛾摩拉) in the Protestant tradition. This is an interesting transliteration because the first character é (蛾) has a negative connotation with the meaning of “moth.” This character is only used here in the Protestant Chinese Bible. For many other transliterations the more neutral character 俄 with the same pronunciation is used. (Source: Zetzsche)

complete verse (Genesis 10:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 10:19:

  • Newari: “In this way the territory of the clan of Caanan reached from Sidon south to Gerar which was alongside Gaza, [and] east to Zeboiim which what alongside Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Lasha.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The boundary of their land starts from Sidon going-towards Gerar until Gasa, and reaches Sodom, Gomora, Adma, Zeboyim, until Lasha.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their land extended from Sidon city in the north as far south as Gaza town, and then to the east as far as Gerar town, and then farther east to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim towns, and even as far as Lasha town.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 10:19

And the territory of the Canaanites: And, in characteristic Hebrew usage, fails to define the logical relation with what comes before. This statement is a consequence of the spreading of the Canaanite clans. Accordingly it is more natural in English and some other languages to say something similar to Good News Translation, “until the Canaanite borders reached…” or “as a result the Canaanite borders reached….” In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence: “The Canaanite borders….”

Territory of the Canaanites refers to the border, boundary, or land occupied by the Canaanites. The Canaanite borders are described in terms of eight cities, or well-known (at the time) points of reference. It is impossible to draw a line connecting these points, since the locations of the last five are not known.

From Sidon, in the direction of Gerar: Sidon is in Phoenicia (modern Lebanon), and Gerar is southeast of Gaza. See the map on page 18. Consequently a line from Sidon in the direction of Gerar would not go as far as Gaza, but beyond it and to the east. In reference to population movements, as far as suggests that the Canaanite people spread out “until they reached Gaza” and “until they reached Lasha.”

In the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha is equally impossible to follow, since none of these places has a proven location. However, Westermann assumes verse 19 does not intend to define Canaan’s borders but rather to give its general area by naming a few important locations along its borders, and this may have been done by putting two separate sources together.

On the widespread assumption that Sodom and Gomorrah were located near the Dead Sea, Good News Translation says “from Sidon southward to Gerar near Gaza, and eastward to Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim near Lasha.” Others, like Revised Standard Version, avoid the use of compass directions. Translators may follow either model.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .