messenger

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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 7:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 7:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Joshua sent people to run to the tent of Achan. The people found those things having been buried in the tent with the silver at the bottom.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Joshua sent men, and they went running to the tent. As it turned out, those things were hidden in the tent, and as for the silver, it was below everything else.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Josue commanded some men to run/go to the tent of Acan. And there they found/[lit. saw] the things which had-been-buried, the silver (was) at the very bottom of-these.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Joshua sent some men to find those things. They ran to Achan’s tent and found all the things hidden there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 7:22

So Joshua sent some men, who ran to the tent translates a coordinate construction in Hebrew; literally “So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent” (Revised Standard Version). It may be useful in translation to connect the phrase to the tent with the verb sent: “So Joshua sent some men to Achan’s tent.”

Revised Standard Version “it was hidden” is difficult to understand. What is meant is “the things were hidden.” And “behold” indicates the surprise the men felt when they found the things; Good News Translation expresses this by really (were buried there).

The last part of this verse (and found … at the bottom) may be handled much more economically: “and they found everything just as Achan had described it.”

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 7:22

Paragraph 7:22–26

Joshua and the Israelites stoned and burned Achan and his family.

7:22a

So: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the result after Achan confessed his sin. It may be clearer to make the connection explicit. For example, you could say:

So, ⌊after Achan had confessed his sin,⌋ Joshua sent messengers

Joshua sent messengers: The word messengers refers to people whom Joshua told to go and search Achan’s tent.

7:22b

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “and” indicates the next event in the storyline. Some other English versions do not translate this word. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

ran to the tent: The phrase ran to the tent indicates that it was urgent to resolve this serious problem.

7:22c

there: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as there emphasizes what happens next in the story. Some English versions do not translate this word, buy many English versions translate it as “behold.” You may have a particle or another way in your language that has the same function. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

was, hidden in his tent: The men Joshua sent found the things buried under his tent, as he said they were. The verb phrase was, hidden in his tent is passive. In some languages it may be necessary to translate with an active verb. For example, you could say:

Achan had hidden it in his tent

with the silver underneath: The silver was buried at the bottom of the hole. The robe and the bar of gold were on top of the silver.

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