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 (Deuteronomy 33:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 33:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “Their gates will have locks of iron and bronze
    and (they) shall get power in all their lives.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “May the crossbars on their main gates be of iron and bronze,
    their strength will be as their days."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “May the gates of their towns are protected with iron and bronze bolts/bars,
    and may their greatness will-remain while they are alive.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their towns will be protected by high walls with gates that have bronze and iron bars;
    I desire/hope that they will be strong and secure/protected all the time that they are alive.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 33:25

Your bars shall be iron and bronze: this is quite unintelligible. It speaks of a strong defense. A “bar” is a long and strong piece of wood or iron that is used to keep a door or a gate closed against anyone who wants to enter to do harm. New International Version has “The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze.” Bible en français courant offers a better model: “He is secure behind his doors with bars of iron and bronze.”

As your days, so shall your strength be: in the context strength is security, not might. So New Jerusalem Bible has “and your security [be] as lasting as your days,” that is, “may you be secure all your life,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “and [may] your security last all your days.” See also Good News Translation. As commentators point out, the Hebrew word translated strength is otherwise unknown in Hebrew; but the context seems clear enough, and the Septuagint translates “your strength.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .