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 (Exodus 25:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 25:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “Let a Covenant Box be made using boards from an acacia tree. It should have a length of forty five inches, width of twenty seven inches and a height of twenty seven inches.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You will make an ark of acacia wood, 1.1 m long, 66 cm wide and 66 cm high.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘[You (sing.)] have-(someone)-make a box of acacia/[akasya] — about 45 inches long, about 27 inches wide, and about 27 inches high.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “God spoke to Moses again like this, ‘And so the people will make a box from akas wood, having a length which extends 45 inches (lit. [from our fingertip to] our[incl] opposite shoulder), and having a width which extends 27 inches (lit. [from our fingertip to] our[incl] armpit), and its height extends 27 inches also.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “«you (sing., imp.) say to them they must build for me sacred box with tree white-acacia. Length of its bottom, let it be joint of hand two and a half, and its width, let it be joint of hand one and a half, and length of its height, let it be joint of hand one and a half.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Tell the people to make a sacred chest from acacia wood. It is to be 45 in./110 cm. long, 27 in./66 cm. wide, and 27 in./66 cm. high.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

acacia

The plural form of shittah (shittim) is used sometimes as a place name (see Shittim), which is evidence of the wide distribution of this tree in Sinai and southern Palestine. The acacia referred to in the Bible was of two kinds, the Umbrella Thorn Acacia Acacia tortilis and the Common Acacia Acacia raddiana.

The Acacia tortilis is found in the hot Arabah Valley, whereas the Acacia raddiana tends to be found in cooler conditions throughout Sinai. A third variety (Acacia albida) is found in lowland Israel, the Sharon Plain, and lower Galilee. The common acacia was the only tree available to the Israelites for construction of the Tabernacle.

Both types of acacia are short, reaching 3-5 meters (10-17 feet) tall, but having a wide crown. As members of the Mimosa family, they have sharp spines, finely divided leaves, and tiny pale yellow flowers arranged in drooping bunches. The bean pod they produce is twisted and looped when dry.

Since the acacia is widespread in dry areas of Africa, Arabia, India and Australia, translators in those areas should be able to use a local word. In such languages a local species should be used, especially one that is used for building. Elsewhere, if none of these is available, the translator can transliterate from Hebrew (shittah) or from a major language, for example, sunt or talh (Arabic), akasiya (English/French/Spanish via Latin). West African translators need to beware of confusing “acacia” and “cassia,” a common tree with yellow flowers.

Acacia raddiana, photo by Ray Pritz
Acacia flowers, photo by Gloria Suesss

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)