cattle, livestock

The Hebrew that is translated in English as “livestock” (or “cattle”) is translated in Newari as “living beings brought up in a house” or “living beings cared for in a house” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

In Kwere it is “animals that are being kept.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

creeping things, reptiles

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated in English as “reptiles” or “creeping things” or similar is translated as “those which crawl along upon their stomach” in San Mateo del Mar Huave, “those that crawl the way they travel” in Chichimeca-Jonaz, and “animals that crawl on the ground” in Lalana Chinantec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

In Nyamwezi it is translated as as vitundwa vya ku’yu’mba or “creatures that move.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature.

complete verse (Genesis 6:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 6:20:

  • Kankanaey: “Also cause-to-enter (you-pl) pairs of all kinds of animals and flying-things, including slithering-things and crawling-things, so that they will have a way to live.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “All kinds of birds who live on earth, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping [animals] one pair, one pair will come with you to be kept alive.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Two of every kind of all the animals who will-come-near to you in-order to live — the animals that fly, the (ones-that) walk, and the (ones-that) crawl.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Two of every kind of creature will come to youin order that by your putting them in the boat* you will keep them alive. They will include two of each kind of bird and each kind of animal and each kind of creature that scurries across the ground.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 6:19 - 6:20

In these verses God orders Noah to take into the boat two of every kind of animal and bird, male and female, in order to keep them reproducing. When these verses are compared with 7.2-3, we note the very different numbers of animals to be taken into the boat in each case.

The structure of verses 19-20 is very repetitive. To help the translator decide how best to handle this repetition, the following display|fig:Table_GEN6-19.htm is given:

Good News Translation has combined verses 19 and 20 and has removed most of the repetitions. Translators may find it best to do likewise.

Every living thing of all flesh: all flesh here means “every kind of animal” and occurs in verse 19a; verse 20abc gives the same information in more detail.

You shall bring two of every sort into the ark: this is verse 19b and also the equivalent of verse 20d two of every sort shall come in to you. Good News Translation shifts it to the opening of verse 19 and says “Take into the boat with you … of every kind….” In some languages the two actions that are involved in bring must be expressed separately: “Get [Catch] two of every kind … and take them inside….” There is also a special term in some languages for two things of the same kind or two things that belong together, and such terms are generally appropriate in this context.

To keep them alive with you: this is verse 19c, which is repeated in verse 20e. This statement is placed at the end of verses 19-20 in Good News Translation where, as a statement of purpose, it fits best in English. Some translations express to keep them alive as “so that they won’t die.”

They shall be male and female: this is verse 19d, and a similar statement does not occur in verse 20. In Good News Translation it is made the first general statement, since it applies to all the animals and birds brought into the boat. In many translations this expression follows naturally after “two of every kind”; for example, “two of every kind … one a male and one a female.”

Of the birds according to their kinds …: this covers verses 20a, 20b, and 20c. According to their kinds means “every kind of.” See 1.11. Animals refers to large animals, and creeping thing of the ground refers to small animals. See 1.24. Good News Translation includes both of these in “every kind of animal.” Other translations keep two groups of animals; for example, Bible en français courant has “large or small animals.” Some translations refer to “birds” and “animals” and then lump together all the other creatures as “everything else that walks [or, moves].”

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 .