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).

distance (long / wide / high)

The concepts of distance that are translated in English with “long,” “wide,” and “high/tall” are translated in Kwere with one word: utali. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (2 Chronicles 3:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 3:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Solomon made in front of that house two pillars of bronze. Each of them had a length of twenty-seven feet. On top of each pillar was a hat/crown/cap which was seven and a half feet going up.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In front of the temple he built two pillars, each 15.5 meters high. The section on top of both pillars was 2.2 meters high.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Solomon also made two post in front of the temple wherein the height of each one was 52 feet. Each post had heads/tops wherein the height is seven and a half feet.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They made two bronze pillars and put them at the entrance of the temple. They were each 27 feet high. Each had a top over it that was 7-1/2 feet high.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 3:15

3:15a In front of the temple he made two pillars,

In front of the temple he built two pillars
-or-
The workers made two columns and placed them in front of the temple.

3:15b which together were thirty-five cubits high,

that were thirty-five cubits high.
-or-
They were about seventeen (17) meters long.

3:15c each with a capital on top measuring five cubits.

At the top of each pillar was a cap that was five cubits high.
-or-
Each column had a top part that was two and a half (2.5) meters high.

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