8This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could find a place. He came to the house of Micah in the hill country of Ephraim to carry on his work.
The town name that is transliterated as “Bethlehem” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the signs signifying “manger + town” (referring to Luke 2:7). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
In American Sign Language it is translated with the signs for “bread” and “house,” referring to the original meaning of “Bethlehem” as “house of bread.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Bethlehem” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 17:8:
Kupsabiny: “That young man left Bethlehem in Judah looking for where to live. Then, he arrived at the highlands of Ephraim and went to the home of Micah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “He left the city of Bethlehem to find another place to live. Travelling around, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “One day, he set-out/journeyed in-order to look for a dwelling-place in another place. Along his journey/[lit. walking], he passed-through the house of Micas in the mountains of Efraim.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So he left Bethlehem to find another place to live and work. He came to Micah’s house in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “But one day,” even though many versions omit it (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). The man refers to the young Levite mentioned in the previous verse. Some languages may prefer to speak of “This man” (New Revised Standard Version) or “that man” or use the pronoun “He” (Good News Translation). Departed (literally “went”) may be translated “set out” (New American Bible) or “left” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). From the town of Bethlehem in Judah is literally “from the town, from Bethlehem of Judah” (see verse 17.7). Translators may say simply “Bethlehem” (Good News Translation) or “that town,” if the referent is clear.
To live where he could find a place is literally “to sojourn where he finds.” The Hebrew verb translated live is the same one rendered “sojourned” in verse 17.7. The Levite left his place of residence, Bethlehem, to find another place “to live as a stranger or visitor,” probably to seek his living as a priest in another town. For the Hebrew verb rendered find, see verse 1.5, where it is translated “came upon.” The Levite was wandering around, looking for work. Contemporary English Version renders this clause well, saying “to find a new place to live.”
And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah: This clause is literally “and he came to the mountain of Ephraim to the house of Micah to do his way/road.” Like Revised Standard Version, many versions move the clause “to do his way/road” (as he journeyed) to the beginning of this sentence. New International Version, Revised English Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh render it “On his way,” and New American Bible says “On his journey.” We may also say “While traveling.” However, New Revised Standard Version interprets this clause differently, saying the Levite came to the house of Micah “to carry on his work.” Translators may follow either interpretation. For the hill country of Ephraim, see verse 2.9; for the house of Micah, see verse 17.4. Here the name Micah has its shorter form in Hebrew.
Translation models for this verse are:
• But one day that Levite left Bethlehem in Judah to find somewhere to stay. He arrived at Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim to carry on his work.
• That man set out from Bethlehem in search of another place to live. On his way he came to the house of Micah, located in the hills of Ephraim.
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 .
17:8a This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place.
He left that town to find another place to live.
-or-
One day he left Bethlehem and went looking for a new place to live.
17:8b And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.
While he was travelling he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.
-or-
He came to the house where Micah lived in the hills of the clan of Ephraim.
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