complete verse (Hebrews 11:34)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 11:34:

  • Uma: “they did not die in the flaming fire, they fled/escaped from people who were all-set to kill them, they were weak, but they became strong, they were bold/daring in battle, they defeated the soldiers of the enemy.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Others of them put out great fires and some of them were not killed by their enemies. Some of them were weak but became strong. They were very bold in war/fighting and they defeated crowds of soldiers from different/other tribes.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And others yet, because of their faith, they were not burned by the very hot fire, and others yet were not killed by their enemies. And some were very weak, they became very strong by means of their faith. They became very brave in fighting and they destroyed the soldiers of their enemies.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “others, they weren’t burned when they were thrown into the strong fire, and others also, they escaped/avoided people who would have killed them. Others were weak, but God made them strong. Still others, they became-strong to wage-war, and they caused-to-flee the soldiers who came-from other countries to fight-with them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There were (those who) were not harmed by even really-fiercely burning fire, and still others were saved from the edge of bladed-weapons. Even though others were weak, God gave them far-from-ordinary strength so that they would be victorious in warfare, in which they put-to-flight hordes of soldiers of other nations who were waging-war against them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Some were put in fire, yet were not burned. Some were in danger of being killed by sword, yet escaped. People who were considered not to be anything were strengthened to war and conquer their enemies.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

army

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

survive / escape / save

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “survive,” “escape,” “save,” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in these verses with pulumuka, describing someone whose life was in danger but who has freed himself or herself. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Hebrews 11:33 – 11:34

In translating verse 33 it is important to avoid the implication that all of the persons just mentioned in verse 32 did everything listed in verses 33 and 34. To avoid this, the first sentence may be translated as “Because men like this trusted God, they were able to fight against the armies of entire countries and to defeat them” or “… against the population of entire countries and conquer them.”

Verses 33-34 in Greek consist of nine short, rhythmic clauses, perhaps arranged in three groups of three.

They fought: the ones who fought are not only or primarily the prophets, but generally the people mentioned in verse 32. The translator does not need to know which phrases refer to which Old Testament characters, since this does not usually affect the meaning. They fought whole countries and won suggests that individuals won victories over entire armies. This is probably not the intention of the text, and Good News Translation‘s whole is not followed by other common language translations. If a literal translation such as Good News Translation is unclear or sounds stylistically weak, the words may be translated “they fought foreign nations and won.” In some languages fought can be made implicit, since the word for won, or “victorious over,” already implies the idea of fighting.

Received translates a word which implies some activity, not mere passive receiving. Many translations have “obtained,” but Jerusalem Bible‘s “earned” is too strong; Bible de Jérusalem has “obtained the fulfillment of the promises.”

They did what was right and received what God had promised (see comments on 11.13) may be a general statement, of which the rest of verses 33-34 gives examples. In this case, Bijbel in Gewone Taal is justified in putting it at the beginning of the verse. The two parts of the statement in any case fit well together. One might translate “they did what God required and received what God promised.” This seems on the whole to give better sense than to paraphrase following the order of the Greek, saying “they conquered kingdoms; having conquered them, they maintained justice in them; and (therefore) God gave them the blessings he had promised” (similarly Phillips “conquered kingdoms, ruled in justice and proved the truth of God’s promises”). What God had promised: the Greek suggests “promises” in general, not “the promises,” as in verse 13. Because they trusted God, his promises to help them were fulfilled.

They shut the mouths of lions may be rendered as “They caused lions to keep their mouths shut,” “They forced shut the mouths of lions,” or “They would not let lions open their mouths.”

Escaped being killed by the sword is literally “fled mouths of the sword,” the plural for “mouths” suggesting repeated escapes from death. This may be rendered as “they escaped from people who were trying to kill them with swords” or “… who kept on trying to kill them with swords.” In some languages, especially those where swords are not known, it may be better to translate “… who were trying to kill them violently” or “… kill them in war.”

They were weak, but became strong could suggest recovery from illness, but more probably it means that God turned weak people like Gideon and David into powerful men of war. If so, they were mighty in battle and defeated the armies of foreigners shows in greater detail in what way They were weak, but became strong.

They were weak, but became strong may be expressed by a concessive clause, followed by a result clause; for example, “Even though they were weak, they became strong.”

They were mighty in battle may be expressed as “they were great fighters” or “they were strong soldiers.”

The phrase translated defeated the armies usually means “caused fortified camps to fall,” but translations agree with Good News Translation in using the term armies. There is no the before armies in the Greek text. There is no suggestion that Israel fought only in self-defense, though Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente speaks of “invaders.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .