village

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “village” or “town” in English is translated in Noongar as karlamaya or “fire (used for “home“) + houses” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Elhomwe it is typically translated as “place.” “Here in Malawi, villages very small, so changed to ‘places,’ since not sure whether biblical reference just to small villages or also to bigger towns. (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Joshua 15:46)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 15:46:

  • Kupsabiny: “Others were all the cities between Ekron and the ocean, those near Ashdod,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “including from Ekron to the sea
    and all the cities towards Asdod,
    and up to their villages.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and all the cities and towns/cities near Ashdod from Ekron going-toward the Sea of Mediteraneo.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The tribe of Judah was also allotted these towns close to the Mediterranean Sea with their surrounding villages: Ekron and the towns between Ekron and the coast, Ashdod, and Gaza. The area extended south to the dry riverbed on the border of Egypt.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 15:45 - 15:47

FIFTH DISTRICT: cities in the Philistine coastal area.

Ashdod was about 22 kilometers west of Ekron; Gaza was about 68 kilometers southwest of Ashdod. The other two Philistine cities, Ashkelon and Gath, are not included.

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 15:46

15:46

from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod: The phrase from Ekron to the sea refers to the area between the town of Ekron and the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Ashdod: The town of Ashdod was one of the five most important towns of the Philistines. Ashdod was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was the largest town between Ekron and the Mediterranean Sea.

along with their villages: The phrase their villages refers to the villages that were near these towns.

Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

This included all the cities with their villages between Ekron and the Mediterranean Sea and alongside Ashdod (God’s Word)

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