son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of

Joshua

The name that is transliterated as “Joshua” in English means “YHWH is salvation.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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 14:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 14:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “When Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh heard those words that those who were in the group that had been sent said, they tore their clothes in despair.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, who had gone exploring, tore their clothes” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Josue the child of Nun and Caleb the child of Jefone tore their clothes in sadness. These two went-together to spy/explore the land.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joshua and Caleb, two of the men who had explored the land, tore their clothes because they were very dismayed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 14:6

And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh …: This is the first time that Joshua and Caleb are mentioned together. Instead of Moses and Aaron, they as eyewitnesses among the spies stepped forward to call upon the people not to complain and rebel. For Joshua the son of Nun, see 11.28 and 13.8; for Caleb the son of Jephunneh, see 13.6.

Who were among those who had spied out the land: See 13.2.

Rent their clothes: In ancient Israelite culture people tore their clothes as a sign of mourning, anger, alarm, shock, or frustration. Some languages may need to add why Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes. They did it because they were shocked and dismayed at how the people rebelled against the LORD. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version add “in sorrow” to indicate why they did it, and Bible en français courant adds that they were “deeply upset.”

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 .