complete verse (Numbers 9:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 9:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “When that cloud got up, the Israelites folded their tents following the cloud and went to spread/set up those tents where that cloud stopped.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As soon as the cloud above the Tent would move away, the Israelites would also move on, and as soon as the cloud would come down, they would also take shelter there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When the cloud lifted now from above the Tent, the Israelinhon moved/[lit. walked]/travelled also, and whenever the cloud stopped they also camped there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When the cloud rose up and started to move to a new location, we/they followed it. When the cloud stopped, we/the Israelis stopped there and set up their tents.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 9:17

And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tent …: Like verse 16, verses 17-23 refer to repetitive actions; they speak about the Israelites traveling and often changing camp. This is clear from the Hebrew expression rendered whenever and from the most used Hebrew verb type in these verses. In comparison with Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version makes this repetitive meaning explicit by often using the modal verb “would.” The Hebrew construction at the beginning of verse 17 starts with the conjunction And, which shows there is no topical break with the previous verse. Good News Translation omits it, but it may be helpful to keep it in some languages. The cloud was taken up from over the tent is literally “the cloud’s being taken up from over the tent.” The Hebrew verb here is passive. The cloud did not rise by its own power, but moved only according to divine impulse. Good News Translation says simply “the cloud lifted,” and Contemporary English Version is similar with “the cloud moved.” Both these renderings may give the wrong impression that the cloud has some sort of magical force to move itself. In languages that do not use passive verbs, a better model is “God lifted the cloud from over the Tent.”

After that the people of Israel set out: The Hebrew expression rendered after that indicates promptness (so Levine, page 299), so it may be rendered “directly after that.” The Israelites would not travel further before God moved the cloud. They would break camp only in response to the LORD’s direct command through the movements of the cloud. For the Hebrew verb rendered set out (“broke camp” in Good News Translation), see the comments on 2.9. It may be translated “move off” or “journey further.”

And in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel encamped: Wherever God caused the cloud to stop, there the Israelites would set up their camp again. New Century Version says “and wherever the cloud stopped, the Israelites camped.” For encamped see 1.50.

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 .