complete verse (Isaiah 10:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 10:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people of Madmenah are fleeing,
    and those of Gebim are hiding.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “[The people of] Madmenah have run away,
    The people of Gebim have hidden.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The residents of Madmena and Gebim had- already -fled.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 10:31

Madmenah is in flight: Madmenah was another town north of Jerusalem along the route of the enemy advance. Its inhabitants are fleeing from the Assyrians. The choice of the unusual Hebrew verb rendered is in flight seems to depend on the poet’s desire to play with the root word ndd. The town name sounds like the verb.

The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety: Gebim was another town close to Jerusalem. Its people also have run away to a safe place.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• The population of Madmenah has fled,
those in Gebim have run to safety.

• The people in Madmenah have fled, those in Gebim have sought a safe refuge.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .