complete verse (Numbers 31:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 31:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “God said to Moses,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The LORD said to Moses,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD said to Moises,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Yahweh spoke to Moses/me and said,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 31:1

The LORD said to Moses: See 1.1. This quote frame clearly indicates the beginning of a new section of the narrative discourse. This verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”). However, this section does not follow chronologically after the previous one, so both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation omit this conjunction.

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 .