Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 44:1:
Kupsabiny: “Then, God spoke to me concerning the Jews who lived in Egypt who were in these cities: Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis and the areas to the South. He said to me,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The LORD said to Jeremias concerning all the Jews who live in the north of Egipto — in the cities of Migdol, Tapanhes, and in Memfis — and as-well-as in the south of Egipto.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “This is the message that Yahweh gave me concerning the Jews who were living in northern Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpenes, and Memphis cities, and in the Pathros region in southern Egypt:” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The word that came to Jeremiah: See 1.4. Good News Translation restructures the first part of this verse to say “The LORD spoke to me concerning all the Israelites living in Egypt….”
For Jews see 32.12.
Migdol (see 46.14) was near Tahpanhes (see 2.16).
For Memphis also see 2.16.
Pathros was the name for Upper Egypt, which meant “the land of the south.” Good News Translation renders it as “the southern part of the country.”
Another way to render the verse is:
• Here is the message the LORD gave Jeremiah about all the Israelites who were living in Egypt. They were in the cities of Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis, and in the Pathros region.
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 .
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