sparrow

While the Greek word strouthion is certainly the name for the sparrow, the Hebrew tsippor is actually an inclusive word that refers to sparrow-sized birds in general. These small birds, especially sparrows, were caught in nets and traps and were an important part of the diet of poor people.

There are three types of sparrow that are common in Israel, the House Sparrow Passer domesticus, the Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis, and the Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus. All three are small speckled brown birds. Additional small birds that abound around towns and settlements are members of the bunting, finch, and tit families. Sparrows in particular are usually found in fairly large numbers roosting and nesting together. All are seed eaters and live mainly on grass seeds and grain.

Sparrows were considered clean birds and were associated with the poor.

Sparrows or sparrow-like small birds are found all over the world. Finding a local word is not usually difficult. The reference to “a lonely bird on the housetop” in Psalms 102:7 takes on additional meaning if the sparrow was intended, since it is a bird that is seldom seen alone. It would then indicate the psalmist’s sense of loneliness at being separated from those with whom he belongs.

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

complete verse (Numbers 22:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 22:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “The king of Moab who was called Balak son of Zippor saw what the Israelites had done to the Amorites.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Whatever the Israelites had done to the Amorites, Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, had seen it all.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, King Balak of Moab, the child of Zippor knew, all that the Israelinhon did to the Amornon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But King Balak, the son of Zippor, who ruled Moab, found out what the Israelis had done to the Amor people-group.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 22:2-3

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites: The Hebrew does not specify at this point that Balak was the king of Moab. But in many languages it will be helpful or even necessary to add this information here (so Good News Bible with “the king of Moab, Balak”), although it might reduce the suspense built up in the narrative. The Hebrew text first calls him “the king of Moab” in verse 4. The name Balak may be a royal praise name. It can be taken to mean “devastator.” The Hebrew root for this name is balaq, which means “to lay waste” or “to crush.” Nothing is known about Zippor, who may have been the actual father of Balak, or a more famous ancestor. The Hebrew verb for saw expresses that a person has come to know something of significance, whether he found out by actually seeing it or not. In English this idea is often expressed with the verb “hear,” so Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version say “heard.” In some languages it may be more natural to translate “learned” (PV) or “discovered” (Bible en français courant). For the Amorites, see 13.29.

And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many: For Moab see 21.11. In this context Moab refers to the people of Moab, not the land. In some languages Moab would give the impression that this is a different subject, having nothing to do with Balak, so Good News Bible says “he and all his people,” which is a helpful model. If Balak is specified as the king of Moab in verse 2 (so Good News Bible), this sentence may be rendered “he and his people were terrified because there were so many Israelites” (similarly NIRV).

Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel: This sentence repeats the idea of the previous one for emphasis. The Hebrew verb here refers to extreme fear (compare Exo 1.12, where the same verb is used). Many languages will have an idiom to express this extreme emotion; for example, Chewa says “they fell down with fear….”

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 .