The term that is transliterated as “Caleb” in English is translated in American Sign Language with one variation of the sign for “watch,” a reference to the fact that Caleb was one of the twelve who surveyed the Promised Land. The sign also alludes to watchdogs, a reference to Caleb’s enduring loyalty to God. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Caleb” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “spy.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 15:17:
Kupsabiny: “The man who took that city was Othniel son of Kenaz. Kenaz was a brother to Caleb. So, Caleb presented his daughter to that man.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, conquered and took Kiriath-sepher. So Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to [lit.: with] him in marriage.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Otniel the child/(son) of Kenaz the younger-brother of Caleb was-the-one who took-by-force/conquered the city. So Caleb had- his child/(daughter) Acsa -become-a-wife to him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave his daughter to him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The account that follows (verses 16-19) is paralleled in Judges 1.11-15. The passage in Judges specifies that Kenaz, the father of Othniel, was the younger brother of Caleb.
In verse 16 it may be better to invert the order of Caleb’s promise so that it follows chronological sequence: “Whoever succeeds in capturing Kiriath Sepher can marry my daughter Achsah.” Or, since Caleb would have been addressing his men, the text may be translated, “If any one of my men is able to capture the city of Kiriath Sepher, I will let him marry my daughter Achsah.”
Verse 17 of Good News Translation is already arranged in proper sequence. However, for some languages it may seem unnecessary to mention the name of Caleb’s daughter again this soon. Good News Translation does so to avoid the possible misunderstanding that his daughter refers back to Othniel. By the inclusion of the proper name Achsah the text is immediately clear.
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 .
So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city:Kenaz was the father of Othniel and the younger brother of Caleb.
Othniel: Here are some ways that English versions spell the name of this person.
Othni-el (Revised Standard Version, King James Version) -or-
Othniel (NET Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, God’s Word, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
captured the city: The clause captured the city indicates that Othniel attacked and defeated the town of Kiriath-sepher.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
Then Othni-el defeated that town. Othni-el was the son of Kenaz, who was Caleb’s younger brother -or-
Othni-el, who was the son of Caleb’s ⌊younger⌋ brother Kenaz, captured the town of Kiriath-sepher
15:17b
and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
So Caleb gave Othniel his daughter Acsah to be his wife -or-
So Caleb let Othniel marry his daughter Acsah
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