camel

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated in English as “camel” is translated in Muna as “water buffalo.” René van den Berg explains: “Camels are unknown; the biggest known animal is the water buffalo (though now rare on Muna).”

In Bislama is is translated as buluk: “cow” / “bull” (source: Ross McKerras) and in Bahnar as aseh lăk-đa which is a combination of the Vietnamese loan word for “camel” (lăk-đa) and the Bahnar term for “horse” (aseh) to communicate that the camel is a beast of burden (source: Pham Xuan Tin in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 20ff. ).

In the 1900 Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) translation (a newer version was published in 2000) it was as ĸatigagtôĸ or “big-backed ones.” “Katigagtôĸ (modern qatigattooq), which has the literal meaning of ‘something with a big back.’ It comprises the noun ĸatigak (modern qatigak) ‘back’ combined with the suffix –tôĸ (modern –tooq) ‘something possessing a big X.’” (Source: Lily Kahn & Riitta-Liisa Valijärvi in The Bible Translator 2019, p. 125ff.)

In Luke 18:25, Mark 10:25, and Matthew 19:24 some versions of the Peshitta translation in Syriac Aramaic (Classical Syriac) show an ambiguity between the very similar words for “camel” and “rope.” Some translations of the Peshitta, therefore, use the “rope” interpretation, including the Classical Armenian Bible (մալխոյ for “rope”), the English translation by George Lamsa (publ. 1933) (It is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle), or the Dutch translation by Egbert Nierop (publ. 2020) (het voor een kabel eenvoudiger is het oog van een naald binnen te gaan).

In the above-mentioned three verses, it is translated in Noongar as “kangaroo” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

 

There were two types of camel known in Bible times the most common being the Arabian Dromedary camelus dromedarius, which was indigenous to the area. The two-humped Bactrian Camel camelus bactrianus was also known and prized, but it was imported from Central Asia.

Camels belong to the same family as the South American llama, vicuna, alpaca, and guanaco, but camels are much larger and have a big fatty hump on their backs. Bactrian camels may reach a height of about two meters (6.5 feet), while dromedaries are even bigger. Dromedaries are a uniform light fawn color, while Bactrian camels are darker, especially in winter when they grow longer fur.

Camels do not have hooves but a large footpad with two broad toes ideally suited to walking on sand. In other ways too they are ideally suited to life in desert areas. They store excess food in their humps and this makes it possible for them to go a long time without eating. Special blood cells also enable them to go without water for long periods. They also have a very efficient digestive system and can extract the maximum amount of nutrition from apparently dry vegetation. This adaptation to harsh environments means that camels can make long journeys through dry areas which would be beyond the abilities of other types of pack animal such as donkeys. Camels were used for riding and for carrying heavy loads. They were also used to pull carts.

In winter the fur of camels thickens and grows longer and then when summer comes they shed their winter fur in large wads. These wads of camel hair are collected and twisted into cords and ropes or spun into thread which is then used for weaving coarse cloth. This cloth was usually used for making tents but it was sometimes used for making outer robes.
Camels’ milk was used as food and drink but their meat was considered unclean by the Israelites.

In spite of the fact that camels were considered to be unclean for food they were a symbol of wealth and commerce. People or nations with many camels were automatically viewed as commercially successful and wealthy as the possession of camels opened up the possibility of transporting goods long distances and engaging in trade.

In areas where camels are not known, the word is often transliterated from Hebrew or the dominant language of the area. However, in some languages descriptive names have been invented. In some South American languages names meaning “hump-backed llama” or “big alpaca with a hump” have been used. Elsewhere expressions such as “hump-backed horse” have been used. A fuller description should usually be included in a glossary or word list.

Source: All Creatures Great and Small: Living things in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

crescents

The Hebrew that is translated as “crescents” in English is translated in Kim with kaŋ ge pare or “things that decorate” to avoid the suggestion of an Islamic symbol. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also thresh.

Translation commentary on Judges 8:21

When the son of Gideon is incapable of killing the two Midianite kings, they challenge Gideon to kill them himself.

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said: Then renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which signals the quick reply here. In some languages translators may say “So” or “And,” or they may leave this conjunction untranslated. The Hebrew verb for said has a singular form, but it is not unusual in Hebrew for a combined subject such as Zebah and Zalmunna to take a singular verb.

Rise yourself, and fall upon us: Rise yourself renders an emphatic Hebrew expression, literally “Rise you.” Once again the key Hebrew verb for Rise (qum) occurs at a high point in the narrative, when an Israelite enemy will be killed or defeated. Ironically this word is placed in the mouths of the enemy. It can be better rendered “Come on” (Good News Translation) or simply “Come” (New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or by another emphatic word. Fall upon us is a figurative expression for “attack us,” but the Hebrew verb for fall (pagaʿ), is not the typical one found in this book. Here the root means “meet” or “encounter.” In some contexts it can suggest a violent meeting or confrontation (see verse 18.25). We might say “Come on, kill us yourself.” Contemporary English Version thinks the kings were mocking Gideon because his son was afraid, so it says “What’s the matter, Gideon? … Do it yourself.” This rendering is quite dynamic, but it seems to go further than the text.

For as the man is, so is his strength: The two Midianite kings cite another proverb here. In many cultures this is a way to show one’s wisdom and even to win an argument. There is a slight textual problem here. Revised English Bible proposes “for you have a man’s strength,” but Revised Standard Version follows the Masoretic Text, which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives a {B} rating. Many versions try to adapt the proverb into a modern saying with a touch of irony, for example, “This is a job for a real man!” or “It takes a man to do a man’s job” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version takes the kings’ statement to be defiant by saying “if you’re not too much of a coward!” But proverbs are meant to be open-ended, so a literal rendering would be a very good option, which allows readers to decide what it means. Though Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version try to express mockery here, it is more likely that in such a culture where honor and shame were fundamental, the kings remained dignified, even though death was certain. Most likely as well, they would prefer to be executed by a hero, than by a young man.

And Gideon arose and slew Zebah and Zalmunna: Gideon does what the Midianite kings tell him to do. It is often the case in Hebrew narrative that what is spoken in dialogue is carried out—almost word for word—in the narration. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “So” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or “Then” (New Jerusalem Bible). As earlier in this verse, the Hebrew verb for arose (qum) is used to signal the action of an Israelite hero. However, here translators will have to decide if they want to render it literally or say “went ahead.” Contemporary English Version says “jumped up,” but this seems somewhat undignified for Gideon. Slew is the past tense of the verb “slay” (see verse 8.17). Hebrew repeats the names of the kings Zebah and Zalmunna once more to end the inclusio that began at verse 8.18. Many languages will use this same style, which adds a note of finality here.

And he took the crescents that were on the neck of their camels: Gideon takes the spoils of war. This clause closes out a bigger section of the Gideon story, since it ties back to verse 6.5 and verse 7.12, which describe the enemy troops and their great number of camels. The pronoun he refers to Gideon. In this context the general verb take may be rendered “removed,” “took off,” or “took possession of.” In many parts of the world, beasts of burden such as horses and camels were often decorated by their owners. The camels belonging to the Midianite kings wore necklaces with crescents around their necks. Crescents were ornaments in the shape of half-moons. Since these were the kings’ camels, the crescents were probably elaborate and expensive, made of precious metals and stones. It is not known if the crescent or half-moon shape had some religious significance. Contemporary English Version has “the fancy gold ornaments,” which says more than the text, but its rendering seems to anticipate verse 8.27, where Gideon melts down these ornaments and makes an idol for worship. Crescents may be rendered “expensive/costly ornaments” or “precious decorations.” For camels see verse 6.5.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Then Zebah and Zalmunna said [to Gideon], “Kill us yourself! This is work for a real man!” So Gideon killed Zebah and Zalmunna and took the decorative crescents that hung around their camels’ necks.

• Then the two kings said, “Kill us yourself, Gideon! Strength comes with age.” So Gideon killed both of them and took the expensive decorations hanging around their camels’ necks.

This episode ends with Gideon triumphant over his enemies. However, there is no mention of Yahweh here and the next episode reveals how Gideon leads the Israelites back into the worship of idols.

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 .