complete verse (Joshua 13:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 13:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “It began at Heshbon in the south and passed by Ramath-mizpeh, Betonim and Manahaim and reached to Lo-debar in the north.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “and from Heshbon up to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim and from Mahanaim up to the area of Debir.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It) also included the land[s] from Heshbon as-far-as/until Ramat Mizpa and Betomin, and from Mahanaim up-to the border of Lo Debar.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “the area from Heshbon city to Ramath-Mizpah and Betonim towns; the area from Mahanaim town to the Debir region;” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 13:26

Lodebar does not represent the actual form of the Masoretic text, which seems to mean “to Debir” (so Revised Standard Version “to the territory of Debir”; see also An American Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible are like Good News Translation;Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says that this is surely the city of Lodebar (see 2 Sam 9.4,5; 17.27; Amos 6.13), and the committee voted “A” for this identification. But since Lodebar would here be a conjecture, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, following the Septuagint and the Tiberian vocalization of the Masoretic text, says the text should be represented in translation by “Lidebor.” Good News Translation has no footnote, since the consonants of the Hebrew text are retained, but supplied with different vowels.

It would perhaps be advisable to make verse 26 into a complete sentence, and also to identify Heshbon, Ramath Mizpeh, Betonim, and Mahanaim as cities or towns and Lodebar merely as a place, since scholarly opinion differs regarding exactly what it is.

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 .