Ephraim

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Ephraim” 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 .

For Deborah, see here.

More information about Ephraim and the Tribe of Ephraim .

complete verse (Joshua 21:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Syechem (a cite one could flee to), Gezer,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They gave them Shechem (which is one of the cities to give refuge for a person who accidentally killed someone) in the hill country of Ephraim and Gezer,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Some of the descendants of Kohat from the tribe of Levi received four towns/cities from the land[s] of the tribe of Efraim. These were Shekem (in the mountains of Efraim which (is) one of the towns/cities of refuge, where the man who kills unintentionally can-flee), Gezer, Kibzaim, and Bet Horon, including their pasturelands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Those cities were Shechem (which was one of the cities to which people could run/escape to be safe/protected), Gezer,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 21:20 - 21:22

Four cities are in the tribe of Ephraim, one of which, Shechem, was a city of refuge (see 20.7).

Since all four of the cities mentioned in verses 20-22 are in the territory of Ephraim, it is possible to translate the verses as a unit. Moreover, since the summary in verse 26 indicates that they also received the pasture land around the cities, it may not be necessary to mention that information at this time. One may then translate:

• The rest of the clan of Levi was given four cities in the territory of Ephraim. The cities were Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, Kibzaim, and Beth Horon. Shechem was also one of the cities of refuge.

Or, “… One of these cities was Shechem. It was located in the hill country, and it was also one of the cities of refuge. The other three 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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:21

21:21a

they were given Shechem: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they were given Shechem is more literally “they gave them Shechem.”

in the hill country of Ephraim: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

in the mountain country of the clan of Ephraim
-or-
in the mountains of Ephraim

21:21b

a city of refuge for the manslayer: This phrase is the same Hebrew phrase as was found in verse 21:13. You should translate this phrase in the same way as you did in that verse.

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

It was a town where people could run to escape if they had killed someone by accident.
-or-
which was a town of safety for anyone who had killed somebody by mistake

21:21c

Gezer: The town of Gezer was mentioned in Joshua 10:33. It was southeast of Joppa.

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

⌊They also received⌋ Gezer and the grazing lands around it
-or-

⌊They received⌋ the town of Gezer and the grasslands around it

General Comment on verse 21:21

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse. For example:

They received the town of Shechem and the pasturelands around it, in the hill country of Ephraim. It was a town of safety where anyone who killed somebody accidentally could escape. They also received the town of Gezer and the pasturelands around it.

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