“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep.’ In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)
In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCEM, p. 70)
Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 29:33:
Kupsabiny: “And all the animals that were used to give thanks to God were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep/goats.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “There were 600 oxen and 3,000 sheep, animals consecrated to be offered as sacrifices.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They also brought other offerings 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep and goats.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “The other animals that they brought were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep and goats that were set apart to be sacrifices.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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.
And the consecrated offerings were …: The consecrated offerings is literally “the holy things.” Only parts of these offerings were burned. The people sacrificing them ate the rest. Other renderings of this phrase include “The sacred offerings” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “The animals consecrated as sacrifices” (New International Version).
Six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep: Sheep translates a Hebrew noun that sometimes refers to sheep only, sometimes to goats only, and sometimes to both sheep and goats. The Hebrew nouns for bulls and sheep are frequently used together to refer to large livestock and small livestock. For this reason New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “600 large cattle and 3,000 small cattle.” However, the English word “cattle” does not refer to sheep or goats, so a better rendering is “600 cattle and 3,000 sheep and goats” (New Living Translation).
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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