cymbals

The musical instrument that is most often translated as “cymbals” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Laarim: “jingles” (source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Uma: “drum” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “tin” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “bamboo clapper” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “percussion-instrument” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “rattling decoration” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “drum sticks” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Paicî: “cooking pot lid” (in 1 Cor. 13:1) (Source: Ian Flaws)
  • Natügu: “smacking things” and “banging things” (in Psalm 150:5) (source: Brenda Boerger in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. )

In the UBS Helps for TranslatorsHuman-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:

Description: Cymbals were a percussion instrument consisting of two metal discs that were struck together in order to make a shrill, clashing sound. There were two types of cymbals: (1) flat metal plates that were struck together, and (2) metal cones, one of which was brought down on top of the other, on the open end.

Translation: The equivalent of “cymbal” in many languages is a phrase such as “loud metal.”

Cymbals (source: Susan Mitford (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1986)

Quoted with permission.

See also clanging cymbal.

bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (1 Chronicles 15:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 15:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people who were chosen to beat the sticks of bronze were Heman, Asaph and Ethan.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The singers Heman, Asaph and Ethan were chosen to play the large cymbals.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The ones-who-were-entrusted to play/sound the bronze cymbals were Heman, Asaf, and Etan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Heman, Asaph and Ethan sang, and also played bronze cymbals.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 15:19

15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.

The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to play the bronze cymbals.
-or-

The leaders of the tribe of Levi chose⌋ the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan. ⌊They chose them⌋ to play the bronze ⌊musical instruments known as⌋ cymbals.

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