complete verse (1 Kings 7:44)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 7:44:

  • Kupsabiny: “He also made a big water container and twelve other objects resembling oxen supporting themselves on that thing.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “one big tank and the twelve oxen under it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the water container which is-called Sea and its place-to-put which are twelve bulls;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “the big tank;
    the twelve statues of oxen on whose backs the tank was placed;” (Source: Translation for Translators)

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 7:44

7:44 the Sea; the twelve oxen underneath the Sea;

He finished the ⌊large bronze⌋ tank called the Sea, and the twelve ⌊metal figures in the shape of⌋ bulls/oxen that were under it.
-or-
He made the large tub/basin, and he made its base ⌊in the form⌋ of twelve horned cattle/animals.

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