village

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “village” or “town” in English is translated in Noongar as karlamaya or “fire (used for “home“) + houses” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Elhomwe it is typically translated as “place.” “Here in Malawi, villages very small, so changed to ‘places,’ since not sure whether biblical reference just to small villages or also to bigger towns. (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

complete verse (Nehemiah 12:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 12:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “The singers were called from village/areas near Jerusalem and others came from the village of Netopha.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The singers also were-caused-to-come from the barangays around Jerusalem and from the barangays of the Netofanhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “We summoned the descendants of Levi who habitually sang together. They came to Jerusalem from nearby areas where they had settled, and from places around Netophah town southeast of Jerusalem,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 12:28

The sons of the singers are the Levites who have a special function as singers and composers. Some Psalms were written by Levites, for example Psa 50. Sons of is a Hebrew expression used here to designate the members of a guild or professional class (see Neh 3.8). This is translated as “companies” in New Revised Standard Version (also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and translators should find a natural expression in their own language.

The Levites did not have any tribal territory so they lived in unwalled towns that they had built on the fringes of settled lands. They gathered together from these towns; that is, they came together to Jerusalem for this occasion from the different places where they lived. The Hebrew connective conjunction comes before each occurrence of from in verses 28 and 29, indicating “both from … and from.” This produces two pairs of this pattern, first in this verse with “both from the region around Jerusalem and from…,” and in the following verse with “both from Bethgilgal and from….” Translators should try to find an equivalent balanced structure in the receptor language.

The circuit round Jerusalem refers to the district around the city (so Osty-Trinquet). This is the area adjacent to and surrounding Jerusalem in the form of a circle (see Neh 3.22). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “the environs of Jerusalem.” “The area around Jerusalem” (so Good News Translation) may be a suitable model.

The villages of the Netophathites refers to the settlements around Netophah, a Judean hill village 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of Jerusalem. Netophathites refers to the dwellers of Netophah. It does not refer to a distinct people.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .