flat land

In Gbaya, the notion of flat, level land (tableland, beach, plain) is emphasized with the ideophone tɔyɛɛ.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (Joshua 13:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 13:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “That country/land started at the ridge/highland which overlooks the valley of Arnon. It included the city which was in the middle of the valley and the raised land which was near Medeba.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These are their borders: From the city of Aroer on top of the Arnon gorge and from the village in the middle of the gorge to the whole plateau of Medeba” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From Aroer beside Arnon place-where- water -flows (including also the town beside this place-where- (water) -flows) as-far-as the whole valley around Medeba.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their land extended from Aroer town near the Arnon River gorge to Medeba town. That included all of the plain that is near Medeba and the town in the middle of the gorge.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 13:16

For the geographical data in verse 16, see comments on 12.2; for Medeba see 13.9.

It may be helpful to divide this verse into two or more sentences, and at the same time to identify the place-names by their geographical relationships.

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 13:16

13:16a

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible that other versions translate as “and” or “so” leaves untranslated introduces the details about the land that was given to Reuben. Use whatever connecting word or particle is appropriate in your language.

The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley: The Hebrew words of this clause are almost identical to the words in 13:9a, and you should translate it in the same way.

13:16b

along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba: The Hebrew words of this clause are almost identical to the words in 13:9b-c, and you should translate it in the same way.

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