Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 31:5:
Kupsabiny: “So, one thousand soldiers were chosen/picked from each of the clans of Israel. They all reached twelve thousand.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Since it was like that, he chose twelve thousand men who had taken weapons, one thousand from each of the clans of Israel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “So 12,000 men who came from the twelve tribe of Israel got-ready for war.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So 12,000 men prepared for fighting in the battle, 1,000 from each tribe.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
So there were provided …: Were provided (similarly “were supplied” in New International Version) is a rather broad translation of the rare Hebrew verb here. More precise renderings are “were numbered” (Septuagint) and “were chosen” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Peshitta). Compare also “were conscripted” (New Revised Standard Version) and “recruited” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, Willibrordvertaling). For languages that do not have passive verbs, New Living Translation provides a possible model here with “So they chose….”
Out of the thousands of Israel: Good News Translation omits this significant qualification concerning the soldiers chosen to attack the Midianites. More men could have been conscripted for this battle, and from a human perspective, this should have been done. However, a large army was not necessary, for the LORD was in charge of military operations (see verse 7). Chewa keeps this phrase by saying “among the many-many men of Israel.” New International Version says “from the clans of Israel,” since the Hebrew word for thousands (ʾelef) can also mean “clans” (see the comments on 1.20-46).
A thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war: Armed renders a different form of the Hebrew verb translated “Arm” in verse 3 (see the comments there). The Hebrew word for war is tsavaʾ, as in verses 3-4. Armed for war may be rendered “battle-ready” (similarly 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 .
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