complete verse (Joel 3:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joel 3:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “The sun and moon will lose their light
    and the stars will refuse to shine.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The sun and moon will become dark
    and the stars will no longer shine.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The sun and the moon will-become-dark, and the stars will- no-longer -shine.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “At that time there will be no light from the sun or moon,
    and the stars will not shine.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joel 3:15

Verse 15 is exactly the same as the last two lines of 2.10 (see the comments there). However, here the cause of the darkness is not stated; in 2.10 the darkness was probably caused by the flying swarms of locusts.

Quoted with permission from de Blois, Kees & Dorn, Louis. A Handbook on Joel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 3:15

3:15a The sun and moon will grow dark,

The sun and moon will become dark,
-or-
The sun and the moon will be/grow dark,

3:15b and the stars will no longer shine.

and the stars will not shine.
-or-
and the stars also will stop giving their light.

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