sheep

“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep.’ In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCEM, p. 70)

Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).

See also lamb and sheep / lamb.

complete verse (Numbers 32:36)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 32:36:

  • Kupsabiny: “Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran. They built walls for those cities and built pens for their sheep/goats.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran, cities of name surrounded by walls. And sheds for sheep and goats were built.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Bet Nimra, and Bet Haran. These towns they surrounded (them) with stone-wall. They also made pens for their animals.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Beth-Nimrah, and Beth-Haran cities. Those were cities with strong walls around them. And they also built pens for their sheep.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 32:34-36

The Transjordan cities mentioned in verses 34-42 are partially located and described (to the extent possible) in commentaries in case such information is desirable in footnotes. Verses 34-36 list the cities that Moses assigned to the Gadites.

And the sons of Gad built …: The implication here is that the Gadites “rebuilt” (Good News Bible, New Jewish Publication Society Version) or “fortified” these cities after conquering and destroying them (see the comments on verse 16).

Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran: These are the specific locations where the Gadite soldiers left their dependents before crossing the Jordan River to fight alongside the other tribes in the conquest of Canaan. For Dibon and Ataroth, see verse 3; for Jazer see 21.32. For a fuller description of the land that Moses assigned to the Gadites, see Josh 13.24-28.

Fortified cities: See verse 17. Good News Bible moves this phrase to verse 34 to make sure that readers understand that all the places mentioned here were the fortified cities. Such a reordering may be necessary in some languages.

And folds for sheep: See verse 16. New Living Translation has “with pens for their flocks,” and NET is similar with “and constructed pens for their flocks.” As in verse 16, the Hebrew word for sheep (tsʾon) may be used metonymically here to refer to all types of livestock, so another possible model is “They also built pens for their livestock.” Good News Bible omits this phrase, but it should be kept.

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 .