a pole fifty cubits high

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “a pole fifty cubits high” in English is translated in Newari as “a pillar 25 meters high to facilitate hanging” (source: Newari Back Translation).

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).

eunuch

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “eunuch” in English is translated in Low German as “man (or: person) who does not have male strength” (Minsch, de ehr Mannskraft nicht hebt) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006). Similarly, in the German Luther Bible it is translated as Entmannter or “de-masculated.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)

In Bislama it is “a person who has been castrated.” (Source: Bill Camden in The Bible Translator 1995, p. 240ff. )

When the mentioning of “eunuch” does not play an important part of the story, such as in Esther 2:3 or Esther 1:15, the Elhomwe translation uses “servant or “someone working at the palace” “because otherwise element of being castrated too much emphasis.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

save

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The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

Other translations include:

  • San Blas Kuna: “help the heart”
  • Laka: “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “lift out on behalf of”
  • Anuak: “have life because of”
  • Central Mazahua: “be healed in the heart”
  • Baoulé: “save one’s head”
  • Guerrero Amuzgo: “come out well”
  • Northwestern Dinka: “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida),
  • Matumbi: “rescue (from danger)” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Noongar: barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • South Bolivian Quechua: “make to escape”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand” (source for this and one above: Nida 1947, p. 222)
  • Bariai: “retrieve one back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

See also salvation and save (Japanese honorifics).

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 (Esther 7:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Esther 7:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “One of the servants (of the king) called Harbona said that, ‘‘There is a tree/pole at Haman’s home for hanging people which has a length of seventy five feet high. He prepared that tree/pole so that Mordecai who saved the life of the king would be hanged on it.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Harbona, one of the attending eunuchs who was there said, "Haman had a 22-meter-high wooden pole made on which to hang Mordecai, the one who saved Your Honor’s life."
    The king responded, "If so, hang Haman on it!"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Horbona, one of the king’s personal servants said, ‘Haman had-built a place-of-hanging which is about 75 feet high there beside his house. He had-built it for Mordecai, the person who spoke in-order to save your (sing.) life, Beloved King.’
    Then the king commanded, ‘[You (plur.)] hang Haman there!’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru: “Hargonah was one of that group of servants. He came to tell the king: "O king! There is one more thing. This Haman prepared a place to hang Mordecai at his house. fifty arm-lengths high. But Mordecai had helped the king to escape from death back then."
    Then the king said to them: "You hang him at that place immediately."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Harbona, one of the king’s personal officials, said, ‘Outside, near Haman’s house, there is a gallows/set of poles for hanging someone. It is 75 feet high. Haman made it for Mordecai, the man who spared your life!’ The king said, ‘Hang him on it!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)