serve

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)

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 (Numbers 11:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 11:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Joshua son of Nun who was assisting Moses said, ‘Master, make those people quiet!’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joshua the son of Nun, who happened to have been the assistant of Moses since the time of his youth, said to Moses, "my master, Stop them!"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Josue child of Nun, who became the helper of Moises since he was still young, said to Moises, ‘Sir, cause- them -to-stop.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joshua, who had helped Moses/me since he was a young man, said, ‘Sir, tell them to stop doing that!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (-sete)

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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. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-kao (御顔) or “face (of God)” in the referenced verses.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language in accordance with the depiction of Moses in the famous statue by Michelangelo (see here ). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Moses” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here ).

In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:


“Moses” in French Sign Language (source )

The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).


“Moses” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

In Estonian Sign Language Moses is depicted with a big beard. (Source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff. )


“Moses” in Estonian Sign Language, source: Glossary of the EKNK Toompea kogudus

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: Moses .

Translation commentary on Numbers 11:28

And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said: The son of Nun simply identifies Joshua by the name of his father. Nothing more is known of Nun except that he was from the tribe of Ephraim (see 13.8). Minister renders the Hebrew word mesharet. This term is also used to describe Joshua in Exo 24.13; 33.11; and Josh 1.1. It always suggests a high form of service, including the service of a priest. But this does not suggest that Joshua performed a priestly function. He was rather Moses’ most trusted “helper” (Good News Translation)—his “right-hand man” as it were. Good News Translation gives an alternative understanding of the Hebrew expression rendered one of his chosen men, saying “since he was a young man,” which means Joshua had been serving Moses “since the time of his youth.” New International Version supports Good News Translation‘s interpretation by saying “since youth,” while NET Bible supports Revised Standard Version‘s interpretation with “one of his choice young men.” Translators may choose either interpretation.

My lord Moses, forbid them: Joshua wants Moses to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying, possibly because they were doing it outside of Moses’ direct authority. My lord renders the Hebrew word ʾadoniy. An appropriate honorific for this word should be used in the translation. An equivalent to the word “sir” in Good News Translation may be too weak. In any case, the vocative phrase My lord Moses must be placed in a natural position in this clause. In some languages this exclamatory utterance may be at the beginning (so Revised Standard Version), while in others it may sound better at the end (so Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .