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 “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
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 2 Chronicles 23:2:
Kupsabiny: “Those people went to every place in the land of Judah and called the Levites who were in all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the houses of Israel to come to Jerusalem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “They went through out Judah, and assembling all the Levites and family clan heads from all the towns, they brought them to Jerusalem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They went throughout all towns of Juda to gather the Levites and the leaders of the families. When they all arrive in Jerusalem,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “They went throughout Judah and gathered the descendants of Levi and the leaders of Israeli families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem,” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And they went about through Judah: The pronoun they refers to the five military officers with whom Jehoiada had made an agreement. Contemporary English Version makes this explicit by saying “These five men.” Moffatt says “he and they” in order to keep the focus on the priest Jehoiada, but it is unlikely that Jehoiada himself traveled with them. They went about through Judah means the five officers went throughout the whole kingdom of Judah. New Living Translation makes explicit what is probably implied in the story, namely that this was done “secretly.” They did it without the knowledge of the authorities in power at the time.
And gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem: The five officers summoned the Levites and clan leaders throughout Judah and they went to Jerusalem. Good News Translation combines the verbs gathered and came by saying “brought back,” which other languages may find helpful. In languages where the word cities refers exclusively to great metropolitan areas with very large populations, it is better to say “towns” (Contemporary English Version). The heads of fathers’ houses of Israel refers to the leaders of the families and clans of Judah (see the comments on 1 Chr 5.24). This is another context where the word Israel is used for the southern kingdom of Judah.
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 .
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