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 8:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 8:17:

  • Kankanaey: “Also let-out all the birds and animals so-that they will mutually-separate and they will have-offspring so-that they will have a way to become-many again on the earth.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Bring out with you all that have breath — birds, animals, and ones that go creeping. And let them increase on the earth and become many.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “And also let-out all the animals so they would-multiply and increase-in-number, and would-spread-out throughout the whole world/earth.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Bring out with you all the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that scurry across the ground, in order that they can spread all over the earth and become very numerous.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 8:17

Bring forth is the opposite of the command God gave Noah in 6.19. He is now instructed to “take out, bring out, cause to leave” from the boat all the animals. Every living thing is the same expression used in 1.28 and refers to “all the animals and birds” (Good News Translation). Of all flesh (as in 6.19) is added to every living thing without changing the meaning. Revised Standard Version employs a dash after flesh to show that the expression refers to the things named next.

Birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth refers again to birds, and to large and small animals. See 6.20. Good News Translation shortens this list to “all the birds and animals.”

That they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply upon the earth is literally “swarm on the earth and bear and multiply on the earth.” This statement is closely linked to 1.22, in which God blesses the birds and sea creatures with the power of reproduction. It may be taken as a command in English, “let them breed and have many offspring…,” or as a wish, “May they breed and have many young ones….” Good News Translation translates the statement as a purpose clause: “so that they may reproduce….” Good News Translation also switches the two clauses, since bearing offspring must occur before there are enough to fill the earth; thus “swarm on the earth” is translated “spread over all the earth,” and “bear and multiply” is rendered “reproduce.” We may also translate, for example, “Let them have many young ones, and let them spread throughout the earth” or “May they have many offspring and live everywhere.” Examples from recent translations are “so that they will give birth much in many places, and so that they will grow and become numerous” and “they will be able to go around and give birth to young, and they will become numerous in every part of the world.”

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 .