complete verse (Exodus 25:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 25:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “after that, someone enter one (of the poles) into the rings of this side and the other (pole) someone enter into the rings of the other side of the box.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Insert the poles for carry into both side rings of the Ark.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Insert the poles into the something-like-rings on each side of the Box so-that the Box can-be-carried.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it’s done then insert those two carrying poles into the box’s ring handles. Insert one pole on one side, and the other pole on the other side, and so it’s for carrying the box.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Put through carry-wood at the place where be bored hole, that is how you will carry it.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “They must put the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest, so that the chest can be carried by the poles.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 25:13 - 25:15

You shall make poles uses the singular You. The poles were long rounded shafts of acacia wood (see verse 10) that may have been eight or nine feet in length. Only two poles were needed, and Contemporary English Version specifies this with “Make two poles of acacia wood.” Overlay them with gold is literally “you [singular] shall lay gold over them.” (See verse 11.)

And you shall put the poles into the rings means that one pole was to be inserted through the two rings on each side of the ark. To carry the ark by them is literally “to lift the box by them.” We may assume that the poles extended two to three feet beyond each end of the ark. Good News Translation omits this phrase but refers to the poles in verse 13 as “carrying poles.”

The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark is literally “in the rings of the box shall be the poles.” They shall not be taken from it is literally “they shall not go away from it.” This may be more clearly expressed in the passive voice, “must not be taken out” (Good News Translation). Or one may say “You shall not remove them,” or even “Don’t ever remove the poles from the rings” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .