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 8:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 8:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “Joshua did not lower his hand which held the spear until all the people of Ai had been destroyed. So, the people of Israel crushed all the people of Ai. Those people amounted to twelve thousand, men and women.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joshua kept his spear pointed at Ai until every living being living in the city of Ai had been destroyed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Josue did- not -stop stretching-out (his) spear until he had- completely -destroyed all who-came-from-Ai.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joshua continued to point his spear toward Ai, until all the people in Ai had been killed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 8:25 - 8:26

Good News Translation combines verses 25 and 26 in order to give the information about Joshua first. However, it is obligatory to give the information in this order, and the narrative may flow even more smoothly if verses 25 and 26 are retained in their proper order. For example, “On that day the men of Israel killed everyone in the city of Ai. They killed twelve thousand men and women, and Joshua kept his spear pointed toward the city until they had killed them all.” If the restructuring of Good News Translation is maintained, it should be noted that until every person there had been killed is literally “until he had caused to be killed all the people of Ai.” Either the use of the causative, or the shift to a plural subject (“Joshua’s men”) will be necessary in some languages. For example, “That is how Joshua caused his men to kill all the people of Ai on that day. There were twelve thousand men and women in the city, and Joshua’s men killed every one of them.”

In verse 26 (Revised Standard Version) “utterly destroyed” translates the same verb discussed at 2.10 (see comments on 2.10). From the biblical point of view this is not mindless slaughter but is a religious act of destroying completely what had been dedicated to the Lord; it is a “holy war.”

All the citizens of Ai are killed—a total of twelve thousand; no specific mention is made of the children, but it is assumed that they are included.

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 8:26

8:26a

The Hebrew conjunction that Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “For” introduces the reason why the Israelites could destroy Ai. You should indicate reason in a natural way in your language. It some languages it may be most natural to use no connecting word, as in many English versions.

Joshua did not draw back the hand: This clause indicates that Joshua continued to stretch out his arm.

that held his battle lance: Joshua stretched out his arm while he held the battle lance in his hand, and pointed the lance towards Ai.

battle lance: Translate the phrase battle lance the same way as you did in 8:18.

It was important that Joshua keep his arm stretched out and point the battle lance towards Ai until all the people of Ai were dead. This was what Yahweh commanded him to do. This was a symbol that it was Yahweh who won the victory over Ai and not the Israelites themselves.

8:26b

until he had devoted to destruction all who lived in Ai: It may be necessary to make explicit the implied information that Joshua did not kill the people himself. The Israelite soldiers followed his orders and killed every Ai person. For example, you could say:

until the Israelite soldiers destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai

Many English versions use a passive verb. For example:

until all who lived in Ai had been destroyed (Revised English Bible)

Translate this in a way that is natural in your language.

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