Joshua

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Joshua” is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign that depicts a trumpet of rams’ horn, referring to Joshua 6:4 and following.


“Joshua” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joshua .

complete verse (Joshua 10:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 10:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Joshua left Gilgal together with his soldiers heading for Gibeon.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Joshua proceeded from Gilgal, taking his army, the soldiers who best knew how to fight.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Josue went-out/set-out together-with all his soldiers, including all who (were) very good in fighting.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Joshua and all his army, including the soldiers who were his best fighting men, marched up from Gilgal.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 10:7 - 10:8

Joshua responds immediately (verse 7), having been assured by the Lord that victory would be his (verse 8).

His whole army (Revised Standard Version “All the people of war”) and the best troops (Revised Standard Version “all the mighty men of valor”) could possibly be taken as synonyms. However, the present context seems to distinguish between the mass of soldiers (his whole army) and the best fighters among them (the best troops). In translation it may be necessary to indicate that Joshua called together his troops before they started out: “So Joshua called together his whole army. Then he, his best troops, and all the other soldiers started out from Gilgal.”

It may be useful to indicate the relationship in time between verses 7 and 8. If this is the case, one may translate “At that time the LORD said to Joshua…” or “Before Joshua and his army started out, the LORD said to him….”

In the command Do not be afraid of them, the pronoun them may need to be qualified as “the Amorite kings and their armies.”

I have already given may be difficult in a number of languages, and the victory may be too abstract. Therefore one may translate “I will certainly cause you to defeat them (or, the Amorite kings and their armies).” Given you the victory is literally “given them into your hands” (Revised Standard Version). As previously indicated, where this phrase occurs one may translate “will certainly place them in your power.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:7

10:7a

Joshua and his whole army: The phrase his whole army refers the Israelite soldiers. These soldiers went with Joshua to fight against the Amorites.

10:7b

all the mighty men of valor: The phrase mighty men of valor refers to the strongest and bravest soldiers in the Israelite army.

Here are some other way to translate this phrase:

including the bravest warriors (NET Bible)
-or-
including all the best fighting men (New International Version)

10:7c

came from Gilgal: The clause came from Gilgal indicates that when Joshua received the message from the Gibeonites, he left the Israelite camp at Gilgal to help the Gibeonites fight against the Amorites. Here, as in 10:6c, the Hebrew word indicates elevation, that the army went up a steep hill/mountain since Gibeon was a higher elevation than Gilgal.

General Comment on 10:7

It may be more natural in some languages to include the whole subject (Joshua and his army) at the beginning of the verse followed by the verb, like the Berean Standard Bible does.

The Hebrew text mentions Joshua first as a way to show the importance of Joshua as the leader. Use a way that is natural in your language to emphasize Joshua’s importance. For an example of the Hebrew word order, the Revised Standard Version says:

Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor (Revised Standard Version)

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