In Gbaya, the notion of something round is emphasized in the referenced verses with kirkiti, an ideophone that designates a round object.
In 2 Chronicles 3:5 it refers to the round stems of (artificial) palm trees around which chains were circled and in Zechariah 5:7 to a round lid that was lifted.
Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)
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.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 7:30:
- Kupsabiny: “Each of those tables had four legs/stands made of bronze. The metal on which the stands/legs turned were of bronze. Each of them had a bronze basin which supported itself on four supports which were beautified with patterns on all sides.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Newari: “Each cart had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. And each water tank was caused to stand on brass supports in its four corners. Those supports were decorated by threaded bronze garlands of flowers.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “Each cart has four bronze wheels and has bronze axles. Every corner of the carts have supports for the rounded place-to-put of the bronze basin. The supports were- decorated with seems-like flowers that are interwoven. The rounded place-to-put is one and a half higher from the top of the cart, and the width of the opening/[lit. mouth] of-this two feet and three inches. Around the opening/[lit. mouth] (it has shaped decorations.) The walls of the cart are squares and not round.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “Each cart had four bronze wheels and two axles made of bronze. At the top corners of each cart were bronze supports to hold up a basin. On these supports were also decorations of bronze wreaths.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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