complete verse (Jeremiah 41:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 41:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “All those people whom Ishmael had captured in Mizpah turned around to welcome Johanan son of Kareah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “All of them whom Ishmael had-taken-captive from Mizpa ran toward Johanan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So all those who had been captured in Mizpah escaped, and they started to help Johanan.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 41:14

All the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah: If “all the people” in verse 13 are clearly marked as Ishmael’s prisoners, then this clause may either be entirely omitted or at least reduced to a pronoun “they.” In fact, the whole verse in Good News Translation is rendered “and turned and ran to them.” Other translators, however, say “So all the people Ishmael had led away as prisoners from Mizpah turned around and went to join Johanan.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .