Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English means “light,” “a mountain of strength” “to be high.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (1 Chronicles 12:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 12:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “three thousands and seven hundreds (3,700) from the house of Aaron. And the one in charge of those people was Jehoiada. There was also” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “With Jehoida, leader of Aaron’s clan, came 3,700 men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “including Jehoyada the leader/[lit. head] of the family of Aaron and his 3,700 men,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jehoiada, who was a leader descended from Aaron, was in that group of descendants of Levi, and there were 3,700 men with him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”

This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 12:27

12:27 including Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men,

Among them was⌋ Jehoiada, a leader of Aaron’s clan. He commanded three thousand seven hundred men.
-or-
Jehoiada was in that group. He was a leader from Aaron’s descendants. And there were three thousand and seven hundred (3,700) men with him.

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