bath

The weight measure that is translated as “bath” or with a modern equivalent in English is translated in the 1989 Tsonga BIBELE Mahungu Lamanene into a measurement of what a traditional container can hold rather than weight: yinkho or “large jar” for water, wine and milk or “10 calabashes” for oil (see 2 Chronicles 2:10). (Source: The Bible Translator 1998, p. 215ff. )

cubit

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu, Kwere, and Nyamwezi as makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Similarly, in Akoose, the translation is “arm distance.” (Source: Joseph Nkwelle Ngome and Marlie van Rooyen & Jacobus A. Naudé in Communicatio 2009, p. 251ff.)

In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (source: Don Slager) and in Bariai into leoa or “fathom,” which comprises the distance from a person’s fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched, app. 6 feet (source: Bariai Back Translation).

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 Kings 7:38)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 7:38:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then he made a bronze basin for each of the tables. These tables were about ten. Each of those basins had a width of six feet from one side to the other and would hold almost eight hundred and eighty liters of water.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that he made ten bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin held 880 liters. Each basin had a width of 1.8 meters.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Huram also made ten bronze basins, one for every cart. The width of every basin was six feet, and can-be-filled with 220 gallons of water.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Huram also made ten bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet across and held 200 gallons of water.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”

This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 7:38

And he made ten lavers of bronze: Since the text begins here speaking of a different set of objects that were made, it may be wise to specify “Huram” (Good News Translation) as the subject once again. It might also be appropriate to include a transition word like “also” (Contemporary English Version, New Century Version) or “then” (New International Version, Revised English Bible).

Lavers translates the same Hebrew term discussed in verse 30.

Each laver held forty baths: See the comments on baths in verse 26. According to Good News Translation, the equivalent of forty baths is “200 gallons.” In the metric system it is “approximately one thousand six hundred liters” according to Bible en français courant, but only “a thousand liters” according to La Bible du Semeur. It must be remembered that different modern translations use different systems in calculating modern equivalents. When translators find such differences, they should follow the same system they have been using, if they know what that system is. If not, they should probably continue to follow the same base or model translation that they have been using for the modern equivalents of weights and measures. The “Table of Weights and Measures” in the New International Version Study Bible states that “Weights and measures differed somewhat at various times and places in the ancient world. There is uncertainty particularly about the ephah and the bath.”

Each laver measured four cubits: Most translations take this as a reference to the diameter of the basin (Good News Translation, New Century Version, New American Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), while Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie regard it as its height. Four cubits is the same size as the cart (see verse 27). This would be “two meters” (La Bible du Semeur) or “6 feet” (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 7:38

7:38a He also made ten bronze basins,

Huram also made ten water bowls/containers out of bronze.
-or-
Huram also shaped/formed ten bronze basins ⌊to hold water for purification⌋.

7:38b each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across,

See the note on 1 Kings 7:26c. The Sea could hold fifty times as much water as these bowls or basins.

They each held forty large liquid measures ⌊of water⌋ and were four cubits across the rim/top.
-or-
Each basin could contain about a thousand liters. Each one measured two meters from one side of the rims to the other.

7:38c one basin for each of the ten stands.

There was one basin for each base.
-or-
One water basin ⌊sat/rested⌋ on each of the ten stands.

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