sheep

“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCAM, p. 70)

Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).

See also lamb.

Translation commentary on Judges 6:4

This verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction, which introduces additional details about the Midianites’ activities in the region. but Revised Standard Version and most other versions omit it. Translators can decide if a transition word is needed here.

They would encamp against them uses a common Hebrew idiom often found in the Old Testament to express the idea of siege or invasion (see, for example, verse 9.50; verse 20.19; verse 10.5). The Hebrew expression rendered encamp against refers not only to the Midianites pitching their tents, but also carries the idea of a threat. They camped, literally “upon them.” The pronoun they refers to the group of invaders mentioned in verse 6.3, while the pronoun them refers to the Israelites. We might say “they invaded the land and set up their tents” or “they invaded the Israelites’ land and pitched their tents there.”

And destroy the produce of the land: And (Hebrew waw conjunction) introduces the next chronological event. In some languages it could be expressed by “then,” but in others it will be easier to omit it. The Hebrew verb rendered destroy means “damage,” “ruin,” or “spoil.” It is unlikely that these enemies actually destroyed all the Israelite crops (see verse 6.11). According to the next verse, they allowed their animals to come in and eat up all that was planted, thus destroying what was produced. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh adds a footnote here to indicate that the destruction of the crops took place “by grazing their livestock.” Possible idiomatic expressions for destroy here are “devour,” “eat up,” and “finish.” The produce of the land refers to all that was grown in Israel. Produce may be rendered “crops” or “food.” It may not be necessary to translate the land (ha-ʾerets in Hebrew), though this term has a special significance for the Israelites, referring to the land promised to them by God (see comments on verse 1.2). This reference may express the outrage the Israelites felt at the hands of these invaders.

As far as the neighborhood of Gaza is literally “until you [singular] come to Gaza.” Some languages may have a similar idiom. The word neighborhood does not occur in Hebrew, but is added by Revised Standard Version here. Gaza was a town to the south of Canaan near the Mediterranean Sea in the region occupied by the Philistines. This town will play an important role in the Samson episode (verse 16.1, 21). We might say “all the way to Gaza,” “as far as the outskirts of Gaza” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible), or “as far as the town of Gaza” (Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation makes the direction explicit by saying “as far south as the area around Gaza,” but this kind of detail is not needed here.

And leave no sustenance in Israel: The Hebrew word translated sustenance comes from the participle meaning “living.” This clause can have several possible meanings: (1) the invaders took away so much, there was nothing left to eat (so NET Bible); (2) no living thing was left (so New International Version); or (3) there was nothing left to make a living (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). Most versions prefer the last sense, which Good News Translation expresses by saying “and leave nothing for the Israelites to live on.”

And no sheep or ox or ass: This is a list of some of the things that the invaders took away, leaving the Israelites with no means of making a living. Sheep were a source of food, but also supplied skin and wool. The Hebrew word here can refer both to sheep and goats. The Hebrew word for ox is a general word for cattle, a term that can be used here. These livestock served as a source of food, but were also used as beasts of burden in agriculture and other tasks. The ass or donkey was used for work and transport (see comments on verse 1.14). Many languages will have words for all three animals. We might say “no sheep, no donkeys, no domestic animals of any kind.” In Hebrew there is no negative particle at the beginning of this series. Revised Standard Version supplies the word no. In some languages it will be necessary to repeat the negative for emphasis by saying “no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys.” In Hebrew these words are in the singular, but used in a collective sense. It would be appropriate to say “not a single sheep, not a single ox, not a single donkey.” Some languages will prefer to be even more explicit with “there was nothing left: no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys.” Others may want to add a particle or ideophone at the end for emphasis, saying “no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys, finish” or “no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys, nothing.” Revised English Bible may also serve as a model: “They left nothing to support life in Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.” New Jerusalem Bible is similar with “They left Israel nothing to live on, not a sheep or an ox or a donkey.” This statement is clearly a hyperbole or an exaggeration, and this style continues throughout this account (see also verse 7.12). Here it is meant to emphasize the shock and desolation of the Israelites whose land was overrun.

Some translation models for this verse are:

• They invaded the Israelites’ land, set up their tents, and devoured their crops all the way down to Gaza. They left the Israelites with no means of livelihood: no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys.

• They set up camp and attacked the land all the way to Gaza, devouring everything the land produced. They left nothing for the people of Israel to live on, not any sheep, donkeys or other livestock.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .