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)

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 19:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 19:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “The border turned from there heading to Ramah and Tyre a city which was closed in with a wall. It turned from there heading towards Hosah and it ran into the ocean of Mediterranean. That land included these cities: Mahalab, Akzib” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then that border turned and, going toward Ramah, went up to the walled city of Tyre. From there that border turned toward Hosah and ended up at the sea in the territory of Achzib.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then this turns/curves towards Rama and to the stone-walled city of Tyre, and goes-toward Hosa, and ends in the Sea of Mediteraneo. Still the other towns/cities that were under- their -jurisdiction were Mehebel, Aczib,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “From there the border extended south toward Ramah and to the big city of Tyre that had strong walls around it. From there the border extended west to Hosah town and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. Within their area were the towns of Aczib,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 19:25 - 19:31

Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation follow the Masoretic text spelling of the places cited. In verse 28, instead of Masoretic text Ebron, Soggin, citing 1 Chronicles 6.74, prefers “Abdon”; so New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible, and Hebrew Old Testament Text Project.

Sidon (Revised Standard Version “Sidon the Great”) in verse 28 and Tyre in verse 29 are the two important Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean.

In verse 29 the Masoretic text has “Mehebel” (which could be taken to mean “from Hebel”); the Septuagint favors Mahalab (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation and others); Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers to spell it “Mahlab”. It seems best to follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation spelling.

In verse 30, for Ummah of the Masoretic text, the Septuagint has “Acco” (see Judges 1.31), which is modern Acre; Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, and Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefer to follow the Septuagint. A translator should feel free to follow the Septuagint here.

Since some of the cities in verses 25-30 are mentioned in geographical relationship to other cities, the passage may be translated similarly to the first proposal for verses 18-23.

It is possible to translate verses 30-31 as a unit, and a proposal for doing so is given below. But first, it should be noted that Good News Translation once again fails to identify the place-names as cities, and this causes confusion, since Zebulun (verse 27) represents a tribe, not a city. To help with this difficulty, verses 25 and 27 may be translated:

• 25 The southern border of its territory led westward from the city of Helkath to…. 27 The eastern border went north from the city of Helkath to the city of Bethdagon. It touched the territory of the tribe of Zebulun …

The last part of verse 29 and all of verses 30-31 may be translated, “It included Mahalab, Achzib, 30-31 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob, a total of twenty-two cities, along with the towns around them. This entire region was given to the tribe of Asher.”

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 19:29

19:29a

The border then turned back toward Ramah: The clause The border then turned back toward Ramah indicates that the border turned in another direction, south toward the town of Ramah. The location of this town is not certain. It was somewhere between Sidon and Tyre.

as far as the fortified city of Tyre: The phrase the fortified city of Tyre indicates a town with strong walls to protect it from enemies. The town of Tyre was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sidon.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then the border turned southward towards Ramah town and continued to the walled town of Tyre
-or-
The boundary turned back south to Ramah town and went as far as Tyre, a town with high walls

19:29b

turned toward Hosah: The location of the town of Hosah is not known.

and came out at the Sea: After reaching the town of Hosah, the border went west and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

in the region of Achzib: There is an interpretation issue with these two Hebrew words as they are not easy to understand. There are four ways to understand them.

(1) It is two towns called “Mahalab” and Achzib. This is based on the Septuagint and also the parallel passage in Judges 1:31.

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation)

(2) It is two towns called “Hebel” and Achzib.

(NET Bible)

(3) The words mean “near Achzib.” For example:

in the region of Achzib (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible)

(4) The words mean “from the coast to Achzib.” For example:

from the coast to Achzib (King James Version)

(King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) and translate it as “Mahalab, Achzib” the names of two towns. This is supported by many English versions, and by Bible commentaries.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then the border turned ⌊west⌋ to Hosah town and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. Their land included the towns of Mahalab and Achzib.
-or-
The boundary turned to the town of Hosah and went on to the Mediterranean Sea, to Mahalab and Achzib.

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