drawn sword

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “drawn sword” in English is translated in Newari as “naked sword” (source: Newari Back Translation).

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 .

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Josh 5:13)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding the man.

complete verse (Joshua 5:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 5:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “One day when Joshua had gone near to Jericho, he saw a person standing in front of him with a sword in hand. Joshua approached that person and asked, ‘Are you an enemy or are you ours?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man holding a sword in his hand standing before him. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or are you of our enemies?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “While Josue (was) there near Jerico, suddenly he saw a man standing before him holding a sword. Josue asked him, ‘(Are) you (sing.) our (excl.) soldier [yes/no question particle] or (an) enemy?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day when Joshua came near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man was holding a sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked him, ‘Are you going to fight for us or against us?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)