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 8:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 8:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, Joshua, burned the city of Ai to become a ruined hill until today.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way Joshua burned the city of Ai, reducing it to ashes. It has remained desolate even ’till today.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Afterwards Josue had- all-of Ai -burnt, and this was- no-longer -built again. Until now no one lives there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joshua and his soldiers burned Ai city and caused it to become a pile of ruins. It is still like that today.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 8:28

Joshua burned Ai may be a summary to the narrative and not an additional action on the part of Joshua (see verse 19). This may also be translated as either “Joshua caused the city of Ai to be burned” or “Joshua and his men burned the city of Ai.” The translation should not leave the impression that Joshua alone burned the city.

The city was left … in ruins, a condition which persisted to the time the account was written (today). It is important that the reader not confuse today, the time of the writing of the book, with “today,” the time of the reading of the book. To avoid this possibility of misunderstanding, one may translate “The city is still in ruins today, as I write this story to tell you about it.” If this restructuring is followed, it is obvious that the word chosen for “story” should suggest a “true story” as opposed to an invented story.

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 8:28

8:28a

So Joshua burned Ai: This indicates that Joshua gave orders to his soldiers to burn the town of Ai. He did not burn the town himself.

8:28b

and made it a permanent heap of ruins: The Israelites burned the buildings and everything in Ai so that it was a pile of rubble. The name “Ai” in Hebrew means ruins. It is recommended that you add a footnote to explain that this is a word play. For example:

FOOTNOTE: The name Ai means “ruins”

a desolation to this day: The phrase this day refers to the time that the author wrote the book of Joshua. At that time it was still a heap of ruins

General Comment on 8:28

Verse 8:28 is a summary statement about the battle of Ai. The burning of Ai is mentioned three times in this chapter. The first mention, in 8:8, is part of God’s command to Israel. The next mention, in 8:19, reports that the soldiers burned the town. The final mention in this verse is the summary of what Israel did to Ai. The Israelites burned Ai only once. Make sure that is clear in your translation.

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