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
The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:34:
Kupsabiny: “All those Levites were leaders of their houses and they lived in the city of Jerusalem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “They were all leaders of their families. Their names were written in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They were all leaders/[lit. heads] of the families who were descendants of Levi, and they were-listed in the list of their descendants. They lived in Jerusalem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Those are the names of the leaders of the clans descended from Levi. Their names were written in the records of the clans. They all lived in Jerusalem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
These were heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, according to their generations, leaders, who lived in Jerusalem: This verse is a summary for verses 14-33, and it should be a separate paragraph. If this verse is included in the same paragraph with verse 33, it would be understood as referring only to the singers. The demonstrative pronoun These refers to the people named in verses 14-33. Contemporary English Version provides a possible model for this summary statement, breaking it down into two sentences: “All of these men were family leaders in the Levi tribe and were listed that way in their family records. They lived in Jerusalem.”
For according to their generations, see the comments on 1 Chr 8.28.
The claim that all of these leaders lived in Jerusalem does not agree with what is stated in verses 16, 22 and 25, which indicate that some of these people lived in surrounding villages.
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 .
9:34a All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs according to their genealogies,
All these men were the leaders of families in the tribe/clan of Levi according to their family records. -or-
These chiefs of their clans were listed in the books of their ancestors. They were all descendants of Jacob’s/Israel’s son Levi.
9:34b and they lived in Jerusalem.
They ⌊all⌋ lived in Jerusalem ⌊city⌋ . -or-
⌊At this time⌋ they settled ⌊in the city of⌋ Jerusalem.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.