Joshua

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Joshua” is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign that depicts a trumpet of rams’ horn, referring to Joshua 6:4 and following.


“Joshua” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joshua .

complete verse (Joshua 22:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 22:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, Joshua called the soldiers from the clan of Reuben, Gad and those of Manasse from the east” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Josue gathered the peoples of the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manase.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joshua then summoned the leaders of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 22:1

Then is a literal rendering of the Hebrew text; one may translate “after the tribes of Israel had conquered the land west of the Jordan River.”

Joshua calls together the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh and recalls how Moses had commanded them to help their fellow Israelites conquer Canaan (Num 32.28-32; Deut 3.18-20). Although the Hebrew text does not specify, it is better to assume that Joshua called together only the men of the tribes, rather than all the people (Good News Translation), and one may want to make this specific in translation.

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 .