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 23:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 23:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Balaam used proverbs that God had told him and said,
    ‘Get up and listen, please, Balak son of Zippor.
    Listen to what I am saying.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Balaam spoke this word,
    "Oh Balak, get up and listen!
    Oh son of Zippor, heed my words!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Balaam said, ‘Balak the child of Zippor, listen to me carefully.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Balaam told him this message:
    ‘Balak, listen carefully;
    hear what I have to say, you son of Zippor !” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 23:18

And Balaam took up his discourse, and said: See verse 7a.

Balaam’s second prophecy in verses 18b-24 consists of eleven parallel couplets. Like the first oracle, this second one seems to divide into two parts (after the introduction in verse 18b, verses 19-20 and 21-24), with constituent segments that are also roughly in parallel: verses 19 and 21b-22 focus on God, the LORD; verses 20 and 23 focus on not cursing Israel; and verses 21a and 24 focus on blessing in Israel. See the comments on verse 7b concerning the need to translate Balaam’s oracles in a distinctive manner, that is, in a style (or genre) that highlights their prophetic function.

Rise, Balak, and hear: NCV renders Rise as “Stand up.” With this command Balaam tells Balak to pay attention since he is already standing, so NBV says “Pay close attention,” and Good News Bible has “Come.”

Hearken to me, O son of Zippor is literally “give ear to me….” The Hebrew verb for hearken comes from the same root as the word for “ear.” Bible en français courant and PV render hearken to me as “listen carefully to me,” but NBV is more poetic with “lend me your ear.” Son of Zippor is parallel with Balak (see 22.2).

With these two parallel lines Balaam prepares Balak to receive the next prophecy of the LORD.

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 .