complete verse (Joshua 11:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 11:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “They destroyed everything that was alive and breathed in that city.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Everyone, who was in that city, was totally destroyed by sword. Not even a single survivor was kept. Then Joshua set fire to Hazor, causing it to burn.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also killed all the residents of Hazor, and no-one at-all was-left alive. And the town itself they burned.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They killed everyone in Hazor; they did not spare anyone/no one was left alive. Then they burned the city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 11:11

They put everyone there to death presents “And they put to the sword all who were in it, utterly destroying them” (Revised Standard Version) of the Hebrew text. The verb which Revised Standard Version renders “utterly destroying” is the same Hebrew verb discussed at 2.10, which means “dedicate to God (for complete destruction).”

While the Hebrew text uses three verbs to describe the slaughter of the people, Good News Translation uses only two. If the form of Good News Translation is followed, then no one was left alive may be translated either “they did not leave anyone alive” or “they killed everyone there.” And the city was burned may also be translated as an active: “and they burned the city.”

Recent excavations have dated the destruction of Hazor around 1225 B. C. The city was rebuilt by Solomon (1 Kgs 9.15).

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 11:11

11:11a

The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword: The clause The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword indicates that Joshua and his army killed every person in the town of Hazor. This is a Hebrew idiom that was used in 10:32. It is recommended that you translate it the same way in both places.

Here is another way to translate this Hebrew idiom:

they put everyone there to death (Good News Translation)

devoting them to destruction: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devoting them to destruction indicates destroying people or things that were devoted to Yahweh and cannot be saved by any means. This is the same kind of destruction that Yahweh commanded Joshua to carry out at Jericho and Ai (6:24 and 8:8). You should translate this phrase in the same way that you translated it there.

11:11b

Nothing that breathed remained: The clause Nothing that breathed remained indicates that every person in the town was killed. This information is repeated to emphasize it. Joshua obeyed Yahweh’s command to kill all the Canaanites so that the Israelites could live in the land God had promised them.

11:11c

and Joshua burned down Hazor itself: The clause Joshua burned down Hazor itself indicates that Joshua had his soldiers burn the town of Hazor completely.

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