opobalsamum (balsam; balm)

The Hebrew word bosem, which is often rendered “balm” (derived from “balsam”), can refer to any type of aromatic healing substance, but it also designates the product of a particular tree, the balsam or opobalsamum Commiphora gileadensis. Arabs call it balasam or balasham. In the Talmud it is called afarsimon. Excavations near En Gedi have uncovered an ancient processing plant for balsam oil.

The opobalsamum tree likes a desert or semi-desert climate. It grows to 2‑3 meters (7‑10 feet) tall and has small, wrinkled, three-part leaves, white flowers, and pea-sized red berries that have a fragrant yellow seed inside. The bark of younger branches is gray, turning brown with age. The resin appears by itself in green droplets from the stems and branches, but collectors also make cuts in the branches to speed the process. The droplets turn from green to brown, clump together, and fall to the ground, where they are collected.

In Bible times, balsam oil was used in holy anointing oil, as medicine, and as an ingredient of perfume.

A generic word or phrase for sweet-smelling substances is appropriate to render bosem, although where a specific name for the balsam tree is available, as in southwestern Arabia and Somalia, this could also be used. At least one hundred species of the genus Commiphora are spread throughout dry areas of the world. Translators in some areas will know the plants; others may know only the dried resin of Commiphora sold in spice markets.

Balsam tree, Photo by Nigel Hepper

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

wine

Click here to view graphically

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), in sar as kasə nduú or “grape drink” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).

In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )

The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)

In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).

In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine, wine (Japanese honorifics), filled with new wine, and wine (Gen 27:28).

fat, oil

The different Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (1 Chronicles 9:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “Other Levites were chosen to be in charge of all the things inside the House of God. They were also in charge of the flour of wheat, wine, olive oil and the sweet smelling things.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Other gate keepers had responsibility for other items — the wheat flour, the wine, the olive oil, the incense sticks and the spices.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Others were-in-charge to take-care of the other things-for-use in the temple including the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Other gatekeepers were appointed to take care of the other things in the Sacred Tent.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:29

Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils …: Others of them is made quite specific in God’s Word, which says “Other descendants of Korah.” New Century Version has “Other gatekeepers” in keeping with its interpretation that the people mentioned in verses 28-34 were not only Levites, but were also gatekeepers. In some languages the passive verb were appointed must be replaced with an active one. But since no specific agent is named in the text, it will be best to use an indefinite subject for an active verb, beginning this verse with “They appointed others…” or “Someone put others in charge of….” In some languages it will be possible to say “Others had the duty of….”

The Hebrew word rendered furniture is the same one translated utensils in the previous verse and in this verse. Here the reference is probably to certain other items not included in the statement in verse 28. Holy utensils included items such as buckets and shovels.

Also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices: The Hebrew noun translated fine flour refers to flour made from the inner kernels of wheat, which were finely ground. It was used in grain offerings and some other food offerings (see, for example, Lev 2). Wine was used in drink offerings (see Lev 23.13). Oil refers to “olive oil” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation), which was used along with fine flour and incense in some food offerings (see Lev 2). It was also used as fuel in the lamps of the Tabernacle and Temple (see Lev 24.2). The spices were used to make incense (see 2 Chr 2.4), or they were mixed together with oil to form a mixture that was used in the anointing of the priests and in the dedication of various pieces of equipment used in the Tabernacle and Temple (see Exo 30.23-33). These spices included myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 9:29

9:29a Others were put in charge of the furnishings

Some other gatekeepers/doorkeepers were in charge of the furniture and decorations
-or-
Other men ⌊from the clan of Levi⌋ had the responsibility for taking care of the furniture.

9:29b and other articles of the sanctuary,

and all the other items in the holy place in the temple of God.
-or-

⌊They also took care of⌋ any other sacred equipment kept in the inner rooms of the house of God.

9:29c as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.

⌊They also had to oversee⌋ the fine flour, wine, olive oil, frankincense, and spices used in temple ceremonies/offerings/sacrifices.
-or-

⌊They managed the supplies for the sacrifices, such as⌋ flour and fermented grape juice and olive oil and fragrant incense and spices.

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