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)

Asher

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Asher” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign for “(oak) tree” that signifies fruitfulness (referring to Genesis 49:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Asher” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Asher and the Tribe of Asher .

Issachar

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Issachar” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “donkey” referring to Genesis 49:14. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Issachar” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also strong(-boned) donkey.

More information on Issachar and the Tribe of Issachar .

complete verse (Joshua 17:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 17:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “The clan of Manasse was given in the land of Issachar and Asher the following cities together with their villages: Beth-shan, Ibleam, Dor, En-dor, Taanach, Megiddo, and their villages. (The third city was by the shore of the ocean.)” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Included within the area of Issachar and Asher were Beth-shean, Beth-shan, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphoth-dor), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo city and their surrounding villages belonged to Manasseh.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These are the towns/cities in the land of the tribes of Issachar and Asher which were-given to the tribe of Manase: Bet Shean, Ibleam, Dor (or Nafot Dor), Endor, Taanac, Megido, and the villages around them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But there are cities inside the area allotted to the tribes of Issachar and Asher. Those cities, along with their surrounding villages, were allotted to people from the tribe of Manasseh. These cities are Beth-Shan, Ibleam, Dor (which is also named Naphoth-Dor,) Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 17:11

The Hebrew of this verse is difficult to understand; after listing in succession the cities of Beth Shan, and Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, Megiddo, the verse ends with two words which mean “three (is) Naphath”; by a change of vowels the Hebrew text can be made to read “the third (is) Naphath” (Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation, following 12.33 (see also 11.2), takes the words to be a later note: “the third city named (that is, Dor) is the one on the coast” (similarly Hebrew Old Testament Text Project).

It is possible to combine and shorten along with their surrounding towns … and their surrounding towns. Moreover, since Issachar and Asher were mentioned by name at the end of the previous verse, they may be referred to with pronouns: “Within these two territories there were several cities together with their surrounding towns that belonged to Manasseh: Beth Shan, Ibleam, Dor (the one on the coast), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo.” Or, in order to avoid the use of a colon, a second sentence may be introduced: “… Manasseh. These cities were….”

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 .