Jericho

The name that is transliterated in English as “Jericho” means “city of the moon,” “a fragrant place.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that alludes to the walls of Jericho coming tumbling down (see Joshua 6:20). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jericho” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Jericho,” the second parts refer to “town” (source )

See also The Fall of Jericho.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jericho .

complete verse (Numbers 35:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 35:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “God said to Moses while they were in the plain of Moab where it is close to the river Jordan where they could see Jericho in the distance,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “on the plains of Moab by the Jordan river across from Jericho town, the LORD said to Moses,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD said to Moises there in the valleys/plains of Moab beside Jordan near Jerico,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Yahweh told this to Moses/me while the Israeli people were on the plain in the Moab region near the Jordan River, across from Jericho:” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Jordan

The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jordan River .

Translation commentary on Numbers 35:1

The LORD said to Moses: See the comments on 1.1. Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation omit the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”) at the beginning of this verse. Taking this conjunction into account, New Living Translation begins this verse with “While Israel was camped beside the Jordan…,” which other languages may find helpful. NET Bible renders it “Then,” which is potentially misleading since this connector suggests that the following discourse occurred immediately after the one in the previous chapter.

In the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho: See the comments on 22.1 and 26.3. This important location, which ties the non-travel chapters of Numbers into a major part (22.1–36.13), may be placed at the beginning of this verse for naturalness (so 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 .