complete verse (Exodus 16:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 16:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “Some people tried to collect/gather food on that seventh day, but they got/found nothing.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “some of them went out on the seventh day to search for the food, but they found nothing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But there-were still those who went-out on the seventh day in order to gather that-particular food, but they did- not -see any.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “But no. On the seventh day, some people went forth to go gather that food, but they didn’t find any.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “But, on day seventh, others went out for bread [body] gather. But There was nothing which they found.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “On the seventh day, some of the people went outside their tents to gather some of that food, but there was none.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 16:27

On the seventh day is a bit surprising, for it is still the same day as the day described in verses 25-26. Many translations begin a new paragraph here, since the instructions have ended and the reaction of some of the people begins. This verse also marks a literary seam, for verses 27-30 probably come from a different tradition. (See the discussion on “Sources” in “Translating Exodus,” page 2.) Some translations use a word like “Nevertheless” (New International Version), “Still” (New American Bible), or “Yet” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), to make a smoother transition. One may even say “However, on that same day.”

Some of the people went out is literally “they went out from the people,” but it means “[some] from the people went out.” Contemporary English Version interprets this to mean “A few of the Israelites did go out….” To gather is the same word used in the previous verses. And they found none is literally “and they did not find.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .