law

The Greek, Hebrew, and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Yucateco the phrase that is used for “law” is “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198) and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

In a 1922 translation into Chagatai, a precursor language of both Uzbek and Uighur, it is translated with the Arabic loan word shari’at (شريعت), originally meaning “(Islamic) law (Shari’a).” (Source: F. Erbay and F.N. Küçükballı in Acta Theologica 2025 45/2, p. 133ff. )

See also teaching / law (of God) (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Joshua 24:26

These commands refers back to laws and rules of verse 25, and in translation it may be best to use the same phraseology in both places. Both phrases are summary terms of the regulations contained in the covenant.

It is impossible to identify the book of the Law of God with any book or part of a book now in the Old Testament. Soggin says that the Hebrew noun usually translated “book” means here “written document of a treaty”; according to him the identification of the Law was added later, when the original sense of the Hebrew word was forgotten. So he translates “And Joshua wrote these words in the document of God.” Soggin may well be right, but the translator cannot omit the noun Law from the text. The book of the Law of God may be translated “the book which contained (or, listed) God’s Laws for his people.”

Then he took a large stone and set it up may be translated “Then he set up a large stone.” The text obviously means that Joshua was the one responsible for having this done, and so one may translate “Joshua commanded some of his men to set up a large stone….” Or, so as not to mention a third party, “Joshua caused a large stone to be set up.”

Under the oak tree in the LORD’s sanctuary leaves the impression that a large oak tree was growing in the Lord’s sanctuary. It would be better to translate “under the large oak tree beside the LORD’s sanctuary.” In verse 25 the geographical reference “at Shechem” may be difficult to include with ease within the text. If that is the case, then it may be deleted from verse 25 and included here: “in the LORD’s sanctuary at Shechem.”

The oak tree is probably a sacred tree at the shrine; reference is made to it in Genesis 12.6; 35.4; Judges 9.6 (in this last passage a different Hebrew phrase is used, the oak of the pillar).

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 24:26

24:26a

Joshua recorded these things: The phrase these things refers to the statues and ordinances that are mentioned in the previous verse.

in the Book of the Law of God: The Book of the Law of God refers to the book, or scroll, in which Joshua wrote down the laws that he received from God for them. The people of that time wrote things on scrolls rather than in books. Some English versions use the word scroll. For example:

Joshua wrote these words in the Law Scroll of God (NET Bible)

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

Then Joshua wrote down all these words in the book that contained God’s laws.
-or-
Then Joshua wrote these things in the book of God’s teachings ⌊for them⌋ .

24:26b

Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak: In many languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here. The clause set it up indicates that Joshua stood the large stone up on its end.

He erected a big stone
-or-
He stood a big stone on its end

Then: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces the next event in the storyline. Introduce the next event in a natural way in your language.

oak: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as oak is found only in this verse. It refers to a kind of tree, but scholars do not agree on what kind of tree it was. Some English versions translate this word as “terebinth,” which is a tree in the cashew family.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

oak (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, God’s Word, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version)
-or-
terebinth (English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)

near the sanctuary of the LORD: This sanctuary was a place where Yahweh was worshiped. The tree was probably close to this place.

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

He took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree near the holy place of Yahweh.
-or-
He set a large stone on its end under the oak tree, near the place that was set apart to worship Yahweh.

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