complete verse (Genesis 34:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:28:

  • Newari: “They also took away all their sheep, cows, donkeys as well as all the cattle that lived inside and outside the city.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They took the sheep, cows, donkeys, and all the things there in the city and in the field.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They took away the people’s sheep and goats, their cattle, their donkeys, and everything else that they wanted from inside the city and from out in the countryside.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:28

They took, which comes at the end of the verse in the Hebrew, may require a word that applies particularly to this type of context such as “loot” or “plunder.”

Flocks refers to their sheep and goats. Herds refers to their cattle. For asses see 22.3.

And whatever was in the city and in the field is a summary statement that says “they carried away everything they could find inside the town and out in the country.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .