birds of the air

The Greek, Ge’ez, and Hebrew phrases that are often translated as “birds of the air” or similar in English “refer to the undomesticated song birds or wild birds, to be distinguished in a number of languages from domesticated fowl. In Tzeltal these former are ‘field birds’.” (source: Bratcher / Nida)

Q’anjob’al also uses an established term for non-domesticated birds. Newberry and Kittie Cox (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ) explain: “Qʼanjobʼal has two distinct terms, one to identify domesticated birds and the other non-domesticated birds. The additional descriptive phrase ‘of the air’ seemed entirely misleading, for Qʼanjobʼal speakers had never heard of such creatures. Actually, of course, all that was necessary was the term for non-domesticated birds, for that is precisely the meaning of the Biblical expression.”

In Elhomwe they are just translated as “birds” or “birds of the bush” (i.e., wild birds) to “not give the impression that these are special type of birds.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also birds of the air / fish of the sea and birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

complete verse (Genesis 7:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 7:3:

  • Kankanaey: “So also with all kinds of birds, cause-to-enter seven-each that pair-together. That is what you (sing.) are to do so-that they will all have a way to have-offspring and became-many again on this earth.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In the same way also bring along seven pairs, male and female of all kinds of birds. In this way all kinds of birds may be enabled to survive on the earth.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “And you also take seven pairs of every kind of animal that fly. You do this so-that they will-live on earth.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird from all over the earth to keep them alive.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 7:3

And seven pairs of the birds of the air also: and connects verse 3 to verse 2. The verb “take” is not repeated but is to be understood. Seven pairs is as in Gen 7.2. Birds of the air is the same expression used in 1.26. See there for discussion. Male and female translates the expression first used in 1.27. See there and verse 2 for discussion.

The end of verse 3 gives the purpose for the command to take in the boat the kinds of animals and birds listed in verses 2 and 3. To keep their kind alive is literally “to keep seed alive.” The word “seed” is grammatically singular, but the sense is collective and refers to the offspring. However, the sense is far wider than the immediate offspring and means “their descendants,” “their line,” or more exactly “their species.” Their kind is taken by some translators to refer only to the birds, but it is more probable that it refers to all the animals and birds, clean and unclean. Good News Translation has made this inclusion clear by translating their kind as “every kind of animal and bird.” No mention is made of the water creatures. Upon the face of all the earth is the same expression used in 1.29 and means “all over the earth,” “everywhere.”

To keep their kind alive refers to the preservation of the species, not just the individual animals and birds taken into the boat. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “… so that every kind of animal and bird will be kept alive to reproduce again…”; similarly New English Bible has “to ensure that life continues….” The last part of verse 3 may also be rendered, for example, “Do this in order for the animals and birds to have their young and live all over the earth.” In some languages “keep alive” is best expressed as “so that they won’t die”; for instance one translation has “Do this so that they won’t die, and afterward their children will become numerous again in the world.” Another translation that also gives a time reference says “… so that, when the water finishes, all creatures will be able to have children again.”

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 .