15She said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also Gulloth-mayim.” So Caleb gave her Upper Gulloth and Lower Gulloth.
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
In these verses, the Hebrew that is translated as “gift” or “blessing” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-iwai (お祝い), combining “celebratory gift” (iriyō) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
The term that is transliterated as “Caleb” in English is translated in American Sign Language with one variation of the sign for “watch,” a reference to the fact that Caleb was one of the twelve who surveyed the Promised Land. The sign also alludes to watchdogs, a reference to Caleb’s enduring loyalty to God. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Caleb” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “spy.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 1:15:
Kupsabiny: “She answered (her) father, ‘I want you to bless me. Since you gave me the dry country in the south, give me also water holes.’ Then (her) father gave her the water holes that were in the upper and lower part.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “She said, "Give me one dowry. You have given me a field in the Negev, [please] give me springs [of water] as well. So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Acsa replied, ‘Give/grant me a favor. I would like/[lit. wish] for you (sing.) to-give me springs, for the land which you (sing.) have-given me in Negev has-no spring.’ So Caleb gave her the place which has a spring in the upper and lower (place).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “She replied, ‘I want you to do a favor for me. You have given me some land in the southern desert, but it is very dry there. So please also give me some land that has springs of water.’ So Caleb gave her some land on higher ground that had a spring, and some land on lower ground that also had a spring.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.
Here Achsah makes her request to her father clear. The Hebrew verb for “give” is very prominent, occurring three times (rendered set, give, and gave).
She said to him: In Hebrew this phrase begins with the waw conjunction, so we might translate “And she said to him.” Since she is answering her father, we could also say “So she replied to him.”
Give me a present renders a Hebrew expression that is literally “Give to me a blessing.” New Jerusalem Bible is close to the original with “Grant me a blessing.” The Hebrew verb here is different from the root meaning “give” that appears in the rest of this verse. Some versions speak of granting a favor. For example, New International Version has “Do me a special favor,” and Revised English Bible says “Grant me this favour” (similarly Jerusalem Bible [Jerusalem Bible]). Contemporary English Version has “I need your help.” These renderings do not exactly speak of a blessing, which might be important to express. In many cultures a daughter cannot address her father so abruptly, so we might have to say “Father [or, Papa], give me a special blessing.”
Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb is literally “Since the land of Negeb you have given me.” This is the beginning of Achsah’s request. In Hebrew it begins with the ki conjunction, which may be translated “because,” “for,” or “since.” Apparently her father has already given the newlyweds one gift, in the form of some land, but it is in the Negeb, a very dry place (see verse 1.9). Contemporary English Version makes this explicit, saying “The land you gave me is in the Southern Desert.”
Give me also springs of water: Here Achsah makes her request. She wants her father to also give her a source of water so she can exploit the land he has given her. Thus Achsah’s strategy is to:
(1) ask for a blessing
(2) express a kind of complaint
(3) make her real request
Some languages will follow this order, while some will wish to change the order of these clauses (see Good News Translation).
Give me also springs of water may not sound polite in some languages, and Contemporary English Version, for example, tries to tone down the request by saying “so please give me some spring-fed ponds for a water supply.” Good News Translation omits the verb give and says “I want some water holes,” but this also seems too direct. Translators should try to use language with a respectful tone.
The word also probably renders the Hebrew waw conjunction at the beginning of this clause, but we might also say “so” (Contemporary English Version).
Though the Hebrew word rendered springs can sometimes refer to bowls or basins that hold oil, here it refers to “pools” (Revised English Bible), “wells,” or “water holes” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version‘s “spring-fed ponds” seems too specific. Translators can also use a general term referring to a “water supply” or “source of water.”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
She answered, “Give a blessing to me please.
-or-
Aksah said, “Please give a present to me.
1:15b “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.”
You have given me land in the Negev. Now also give springs of water to me.”
-or-
The land you gave me is ⌊dry land⌋ in the southern desert. Please give me some springs of water too.”
1:15c So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.
And Caleb gave the upper springs and the lower springs to her.
-or-
So Caleb gave her a spring in the hills and a spring in the lowlands.
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