The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “tabernacle” in English is translated in San Blas Kuna as “house of prayer that can be carried.” (Source: Ronald Ross)
In Bandi it is translated as “holy sitting place.” The “sitting place for the Bandi is where you live.” Therefore the tabernacle is the place where God lived. (Source: Becky Grossmann in this newsletter )
In Vidunda it is translated as “God’s tent” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Tibetan as gur mchog (གུར་མཆོག) or “perfect tent” (source: gSungrab website )
In American Sign Language it is translated with with a sign for “tent” combined with a sign referring to the outer court surrounding the tent (see Exodus 27:9 and following). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Tabernacle” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 23:26:
Kupsabiny: “The Levites no longer need to carry the Tent of God and all the utensils for the work of that tent.‘” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “So from now on the Levites will not have to carry on their shoulders the tent of meeting and the things used in worship."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Now, the Levites no-longer need to still to carry the Tent which is the Place-of-Worship and its things-for-use.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Therefore, the descendants of Levi no longer need to carry the Sacred Tent and the items used in the work there.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And so is literally “and also.” This verse gives the result of the previous one, so other possible connectors are “So” (Good News Translation) and “Therefore” (Braun). New American Bible says “Henceforth,” which focuses more on the temporal element.
The Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service: No longer need to carry is literally “there is not to carry.” In the future there will be no necessity for the Levites to perform their previous function of carrying the Tabernacle and its equipment used for worship. The Aramaic Targums understood this to mean that the Levites were no longer permitted to do this, but the sense is more likely that they no longer needed to do it. Carrying the Tabernacle and its equipment had been the duty of the Levites according to the Law (see Num 1.50-53; 3.21-37; 4.15; Deut 10.8). New Living Translation says “no longer need to carry … from place to place.”
For tabernacle see the comments on 1 Chr 6.32. The conjunction or between the tabernacle and any of the things for its service renders the common Hebrew conjunction, which is literally “and.” It will be better translated “and” in many languages. Any of the things for its service refers to the various utensils involved in carrying out worship in the Tent of the LORD’s presence. This phrase may be rendered “all the objects used in worship.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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